That, apparently, was the defense that was put forward by the killer of Navtej Singh, the man shot by thugs in his liquor store and left to bleed to death. Anitelea Chan-Kee, the man behind the gun that ended Navtej Singh’s life claims that the killing was “accidental” because he “did not realise the gun was [...]

Looks like the government is set to reduce the legal blood alcohol limit from 0.08 to 0.05 for driving. I have blogged quite extensively about this already so I am not going to add much more. It is not a matter of great note, but the lawyers who are saying that it is the law-abiding [...]

It is all so unpredictably zany…
Today in the News
Millions wasting their time trying to get fit, says study
Apparently exercise is a complete waste of time for about 20% of the population. Of course, that means for 80% of New Zealanders it is every bit as good for you as doctors have been making out. However, [...]

The Sunday Star Times makes the rather obvious connection between the spread of the Superbug ESBL and the lax hand-washing practices of staff, particularly doctors. I will be the first to admit that we doctors are a slack bunch in general when it comes to hand-washing.
“There are many excuses healthcare workers come up with for [...]

While no-one disputes that driving under the influence of the drug alcohol makes your driving worse, a new survey reports that people driving under the influence of cannabis say their driving is unaffected or even improved by cannabis. Unfortunately, this is simply not true. Although the dose of cannabis per smoke is variable, a single [...]

Spam Journalism: The spurious use of sensational headlines to add spice to an otherwise pointless article.
I’m impressed. I had to seriously consider a new category for this series. This is my first sample of Spam Investigative Journalism. Check this out:
Drinking limits ‘not safe’
Alcohol watchdogs are calling on the Government to fast-track drink-drive reforms after a [...]

Once again the prospect of a reduction in the blood alcohol limit to 50mg /100ml blood is being proposed, with Steven Joyce using his strongest words yet.
Transport Minister Steven Joyce yesterday described existing legal alcohol limits for drivers as “ridiculous”.
Speaking to a conference of traffic experts in Auckland, Mr Joyce said he could drink three-quarters [...]

Apparently there has been a recent surge in benefit payments to support alcoholics and drug users who say they cannot work. This is an almost perfect example of the taxpayer absorbing the consequences of destructive behavior. While this may seem a compassionate thing to do superficially, it actually seriously reinforces their addiction, removing the worst [...]

Apparently the number of drink-driving offenses has increased by 50% over the past five years. Although the police cite increased enforcement for the horrifying increase in numbers, I don’t believe this is entirely true. In 2003,  262 people were killed in road accidents. 191 (73%) were tested for alcohol and 59 (31% of those tested, [...]

Graham Thomas, the high-ranking police officer who, after being observed driving home erratically, refused a breath test at his home, has been stood down from the position of national manager of the police prosecution service. Thomas, it should be pointed out was completely within his rights to refuse a breath test. The police who arrived [...]