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Clinical Forensic Medical Services:

Responses to the ACT Drug Driving Legislation

Associate Professor Vanita Parekh

Senior Specialist, Forensic and Sexual Health Medicine
Director, Clinical Forensic Medical Services (CFMS)

2/28/2018
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Overview
• Who are CFMS and what do they do?
– Response to drug driving legislation
• Key principle
– Removing impaired drivers from the road
• ACTGAL data
• ACT Jurisdiction
– Best practice

2/28/2018
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MVC
• Attend fatalities
• Coronial toxicology reports
– Culpable
• Toxicology interpretation
• Serious injury
– GBH

2/28/2018
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Medical examination under section 16
• Impairment testing and
sample collection
• Cocaine
– WH
– SH
– DA
– Coronial

2/28/2018
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Clinical Impairment/Sobriety Testing
• Opportunity for intervention
• Impairment testing
– Alcohol
– Sedatives
– Stimulants
– COMBINATIONS
• New substances
• What else could it be?
– Head injury
– Diabetes
– Epilepsy
– Intellectual disability
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All Cause Impairment
• Fitness to Drive Medical Clinic
– 70% cancellation rate
• Police custody medical care
– Drug and alcohol
• Sexual and general assault
– Drug and alcohol
• Education
– Police
– Year 10
• Alcohol still number 1
2/28/2018
 Figure 1 - Blood Alcohol Analyses Performed at ACTGAL 2002-2014

Dr Ian Whittall, Lachlan Kite and Simon Rockliff 2015

ACT Government Analytical Laboratory (ACTGAL), Health Protection Service (HPS)
 Oral Fluid Analytical Results
November 2011 – January 2015

Figure 10 – Oral fluid analytical results November 2011 – January 2015

Dr Ian Whittall, Lachlan Kite and Simon Rockliff 2015

ACT Government Analytical Laboratory (ACTGAL), Health Protection Service (HPS
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Levels and Impairment
• Tolerance
• Safe levels
– BAC 0.05% interpretation
• New substances
• Prescribed medications
– ANU study
– Diversion
• Impairment testing models
– DRE
• US
• Vic , video
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Questions?