Inside EMS17 Okt 2025

Booze, blood and blurred lines: Should EMS play cop?

This week on the Inside EMS podcast, hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson dig into a hot-button issue lighting up EMS forums: DUI blood draws by paramedics. In Vanderburgh County, Indiana, a new program lets fire department medics perform evidentiary blood draws at the request of law enforcement — right on scene, even if the suspect isn’t being transported. Supporters say it’s efficient; critics say it’s unethical.

The hosts share their own history with blood draws in the field and reflect on how their professional philosophies have evolved.

It’s a passionate, no-holds-barred conversation about legal gray zones, moral boundaries, patient advocacy, operational burdens and the blurry line between healthcare and law enforcement.

Spoiler: There’s no easy answer. But if your agency is considering such a program, this episode is required listening.

Memorable quotes

“My job is to do medical care, period, end of file. Quite often in doing my job, I make the point, ‘Hey, I'm not a cop, man. You can trust me.’”
“There's a moral dilemma there. Are we caregivers or are we evidence collectors?”
“Even if the laws permitted me to do so for one reason and one reason only, it's very hard to shift from a caregiver mindset to a defensive mindset.”

Enjoying the show? Email theshow@ems1.com to share feedback or suggest a guest for an upcoming episode.

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