Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs
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J Stud Alcohol Drugs · Nov 2014
Blood alcohol concentration in intoxicated patients seen in the emergency department: does it influence discharge decisions?
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether blood alcohol concentration (BAC) measurement was routinely requested in emergency departments and whether the observation period in the emergency department allowed sufficient time for alcohol elimination before the patient was discharged. ⋯ Emergency physicians routinely requested BAC at admission but did not request alcohol kinetics while the patient was under observation. The discharge decision was based on clinical judgment. Doctors who do not advise patients appropriately before discharge may be guilty of negligence in their duty of care.