Citation

Pund B, Kajan G. Blutalkohol 1996; 33(1): 31-43.

Vernacular Title

Fahreignungsdiagnostik im Wandel--ein Beitrag zur Untrennbarkeit von Diagnostik

Affiliation

Medizinisch-Psychologisches Institut, TUV-Hannover/Sachsen.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, International Committee on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety and Bund gegen Alkohol und Drogen im Straßenverkehr, Publisher Steintor Verlag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8777034

Abstract

The repeated demand for the introduction of an organisational separation of medical-psychological assessment from drink rehabilitation of drink driving offenders and other types of offenders is mainly sustained by the fear of a possible loss of the experts' neutrality, objectivity and independence. In addition to that there is the fear of an economic conflict within an organisation offering both medical-psychological assessment and rehabilitation courses for drink driving offenders. In the event of a clash of interests resulting in the demand of a complete organisational separation, the consequences of such a separation would have to be dealt with. The separation of fields of work which, in substance, are closely related from the scientific point of view and in respect of the underlying conceptual basis would result in: a substantial reduction of experience of assessment experts (who will no longer be able to gather experience with rehabilitation and/or therapy) an equally substantial reduction of experience of therapists (who will no longer be able to be involved in diagnostics). As in other branches where there are opposing views from within the society, this development is avoidable. Instead of neglecting professional standards appropriate safety and control instruments should be installed in order to diminish economic conflicts. Quality management and control according to ISO 9000 would be an appropriate measure to enable the administrative body to exclude any misuse of the experts' role.