PEOPLE OF MI V DONALD RAUSCHENBERGER
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
April 30, 1999
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 205304
Wayne Circuit Court - Criminal
Division
LC No. 96-501347
DONALD RAUSCHENBERGER,
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: Kelly, P.J., and Neff and Smolenski, JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
Defendant appeals by delayed leave granted his plea based convictions for operating under the
influence of intoxicating liquor causing death, MCL 257.625(4); MSA 9.2325(4) and operating under
the influence of intoxicating liquor causing serious injury, MCL 257.625(5); MSA 9.2325(5). We
affirm.
On appeal, defendant asserts that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress blood
alcohol test results. Defendant entered a conditional no contest plea, allowing him to preserve this issue
for appeal. MCR 6.301(C)(2); People v Reid, 420 Mich 326; 362 NW2d 655 (1984).
The blood alcohol test was taken for the purposes of medical treatment, and did not implicate
defendant’s Fourth Amendment rights. People v Perlos, 436 Mich 305, 316; 462 NW2d 310 (1990).
Where a blood test offered into evidence was withdrawn for medical treatment, a different standard is
required for admissibility than if the sample was drawn at police request. People v England, 176 Mich
App 334; 438 NW2d 908 (1989). If professionals knowledgeable in the field consider the test results
sufficiently reliable for treatment decisions, there is a compelling inference that the Legislature considers
the test results sufficiently reliable for evidentiary purposes. Id., 349. It is unnecessary to meet
additional foundational requirements to establish the reliability of the evidence. Id. The criteria set forth
in Gard v Michigan Produce Haulers, 20 Mich App 402; 174 NW2d 73 (1969), are inapplicable
where the blood sample was
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drawn by medical personnel for the purpose of medical treatment. Defendant has failed to show that
the trial court abused its discretion in denying the motion to suppress.
Affirmed.
/s/ Michael J. Kelly
/s/ Janet T. Neff
/s/ Michael R. Smolenski
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