🚔 No blood sample taken from Minister Dwayne Seymour after crash

Labour Minister Dwayne “John-John” Seymour was involved in a nighttime collision on Anton Bodden Drive on 8 August, but no blood sample was taken for alcohol testing. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) confirmed this in a release, stating that they are reviewing the procedure for testing the alcohol level of drivers after a crash. This review includes situations where the person is unconscious and unable to give consent. The Health Services Authority (HSA) defended its staff and outlined the current blood alcohol testing process in a statement. 🚗

Following discussions with HSA Deputy CEO Dr Vinton Douglas, Commissioner of Police Kurt Walton has opened an internal investigation into why a blood sample was not obtained from Seymour after the collision. A review of section 86 (2) of the Traffic Act, which concerns the circumstances under which a specimen of blood or urine can be taken following a collision, is ongoing. The current form of this section does not address situations where a patient is unconscious or cannot give consent. The RCIPS policy on testing drivers following a collision is also being reviewed. 📝

The HSA's process for blood alcohol testing for law enforcement purposes begins when the police request a test at the hospital. If the patient is stable and alert, the police explain the legal requirements to them. Then, only if the patient consents, the police provide a testing kit with the chain of custody forms, blood tubes, and tube seals. The patient then signs consent for the blood draw and the tube seals. If the patient signs consent, the blood is collected and divided into two tubes, one for the police and one for the patient. The police and the physician both sign the chain of custody forms and then the police send the sample for testing. The HSA recently reinforced this process through a training session for its physicians. 🏥