what happens when someone needs medical service related to illegal drugs? a stranger (foreigner) at a party was not reacting well to whatever he ingested, but people were afraid to call an ambulance or take him to the hospital because they heard that a) he would have problems with the police and probably kicked out of the country and b) everyone at the party would be brought to the police station, thoroughly questioned, and drug tested. is there no such thing as patient-doctor confidentiality here?
Excellent questions. I, too, am trying to find out what the law says about situations like this. Last weekend, there was an inspection/“hongbao opportunity” at Room 18, a fairly upscale nightclub located at Warner Village. As it turned out, there was no conspicuous drug use; however, had there been, the police would almost surely have trucked off the lot of us to the local station and asked us to provide a urine sample, as is their wont. Is this legal? Richard, is there a presumption of innocence in the R.O.C.? Is the burden of proof on the police, or on the acccused? Must the accused assist the police in their inquiry? In some (most?) western countries, one is not required to prove one’s own innocence, it is the police that must prove guilt, and the accused is not required to assist the police. When police ask for citizens’ urine samples, are they just assuming that their requests will be honoured because of their intimidating presence, or do these requests have legal grounding? And, in Eyeye’s case, what is the responsibility of the good samaritan who brings someone in distress to the hospital. Is that person under any legal obligations? Although my previous posting (oriented.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb. … 6&t=000028)
in the human rights column was written tongue-in-cheek, the questions are sincere. Richard, any answers?