Before we convict her here on TOTV, please remember that breathalyzer tests can be wrong. Simple over the counter products can cause false positives to occur--there have been court cases thrown out of court because people accused of drinking and driving had used products containing alcohol including cough syrup, cold medicine, mouth wash even lip balm. See Common items cause false positives on breathalyzers | abc7news.com for documentation.

I understand she was driving erratically (not that I don't see that on TV roads daily!), I understand that it was late at night (perhaps she was tired from working so hard), and I understand that she had a positive breathalyzer test--all I am saying is perhaps it is wise to get all the facts before judging somebody. I guess I'm just a believer that everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

They are referring to what is commonly known as a PBT or preliminary breath test done in the field. The more complex test done at the jail or PD is not a factor in this mouthwash scenario. Doubt it would get that far along if a field sobriety test was passed. ABCs, walk and turns, touch nose etc.

I understand that, but looking back at the original article, it said "Officers smelled alcohol and used breath tests to measure her blood-alcohol content at .087 and .081, both over the legal limit for driving." It sounds like these results were from field tests, which can result in false positives.

The article did not state that any more "complex" tests were done at the jail or PD, OR if they were, what the resultsof such tests were.

I have not seen any follow-up articles showing results of blood tests, follow up tests, etc., so all I have to go on are the field tests reported in the original article.

I am unwilling to judge this woman until I have all the information (and it is very possible she is guilty). It is a pity that many people are willing to play the role of judge and jury without knowing all the facts.

If everyone driving home from the squares everynight in their carts or cars had to take a breathalizer before their vehicle would start.... well, I'd bet half of them would be stuck there.

Intervention
 

Maybe the best thing that could happen is that if the alcohol level and excessive pills is true, (still to be proven) and it is published it may cause the Dr.to seek professional addiction help. It is unfortunate she has had to experience such horrible challenges in life and deal with them but I would submit we are looking with two seperate issues. One is the medical tragedies and the other is alleged alcohol/drug abuse. To allow the medical tragedies
to provide support for the abuses is a classic case of enabling. It is a text definition of being an enabler. If that is in fact being done lets all pray for
her to have the strength to reach out and get professional support for the abuse and find other support (emotional and medical) for the tragedies.:wave:

Graciegirl, What do you mean,Not pulling for her.I do not know her. If you look at the very early posts. yes people said they should pull her license.I do think you are wrong,Seems if a person disagrees with your views,then they are wrong. Seems I am the level-headed one who says lets get the facts be fore we make a statement,something you do not do.

I haven't judged her. She is accused and will have her day in court, however, I am strongly opposed to drinking and driving. A drunk driver caused me to be a single parent raising an 11 year old.

Legal Limit
 

If I am correct the legal limit here in Fla. is .08. It seems that this doc is a bit over that. It is only a bit not a whole lot. I agree she should be prosecuted. She did break the law, but aren't we criminalizing her to a pretty high degree. She has done something which I am sure many people in the Villages have done regularly...she drove drunk. I don't think however that we should condemn her for anything more than that. We do not know for certain that she has done more that that. I hope she is not as hooked as some people have her. I pray she has not.
I have heard people say the they were taking the cart because they were going to be drinking. What is up with that? They are still driving a motor vehicle. It is very easy to become a social drinker in the villages. The problem is that there are chances to be sociable all day most days here. I was playing Sandhill yesterday and 4 folks were sitting on their lanai at 11:00 am. The table was quite filled with beer and wine bottles. I reflected that it seems pretty early to have consumed that much alcohol.
Maybe the problem in TV is larger than we imagine. I have heard people say they were taking their cart because they were going to be drinking, What's up with that? It is still a motor vehicle.
Not being a drinker I have a hard time understand the NEED to drink. I do. however, understand the concept of addiction.
I think we should pray for all people who are being controlled by any addiction,:sing:

Here in the mountains/country, they arrest people for DUI on four wheelers. Same concept, different latitude.

FOLLOWING IS MY POST, THE ONE YOU WERE REFERING To....
quote.What people? It wasn't a public opinion vote if her license was revoked.

Nothing in life is simple. Here is a fine woman who has had major health problems and soldiered though them. A person who has worked very hard for years and attended fine schools and picked a loving husband and gained the approval of many villagers and had the job as head of the stroke facility. She certainly has so many admirable qualities. How could you (we as a group)not like her? How could you (we as a group) not be pulling for her? (I was trying to be KIND)

But if she was driving impaired, she too would have the same laws applied to her as to anyone else. If she was driving impaired she was a danger to herself and to others.

No matter who we are or what we have accomplished, we are all subject to the laws of the land.

It is a sad, sad thing to hear about.
This is my sincere, but not profound opinion. END OF QUOTE.

I didn't mean YOU paulandjean...I meant all of us as a group. Of course anyone whose opinion differs is infering the other is wrong...and that is what this forum is...OPINIONS. You could be wrong and I could be wrong. Some people think you are. Some people think I am.

My opinion is that you are no different or any more level headed than anyone else that posts here...but you think so. We all think we are right. That is the human condition.

Who voted you "the level headed one"?

Posh, I never accused you of judging her (although several have, including some suggesting her medical license be revoked, some would never use her as a physician, and I think someone even condemned her for wearing a blouse that was too low cut), but reading back on this entire thread I have seen too many judging someone who is still "technically" innocent. That concerns me. I understand that a lot of this is just basic human nature--we see a scary mugshot, we read that she was pulled over late at night, she had loose pills in her purse, she tested positive for DUI (at least initially). Most people would jump to the same conclusion. I am unwilling to do this-I've seen too many cases where police and prosecutors have made mistakes. For me personally, I need to sit back and get all of the evidence, not a brief sensationalized news report. Time will tell.

As for drunk drivers, I am so sorry for your loss. While I have never lost a loved one to a drunk driver, I have lost several dear friends (three in one car) and while the pain I experienced cannot compare, I still understand your concern over the issue. Truthfully I have become more concerned about DUI since moving to TV because I see a lot of people leaving events, the squares, etc. who should not be behind the wheel of a car or a cart.

That being said, I also have had a colleague whose reputation was destroyed and life ruined due to the media sensationalizing an arrest which turned out to be a mistake. All charges were dropped, but my friend is a highly respected professor who now is unemployed because the public judged him based on sensationalized media accounts of a crime he didn't commit.

All I am trying to say in all of my posts is "how about waiting until all of the facts are in before deciding if Dr. Hamick is guilty." I have never met her, I have no dogs in this fight, and she very well MAY be guilty. Until it is proven, I won't judge.

Did you get my PM? Any who, I want a house in TV walking distance to pool and CC.

Yes, just sent my reply.

I'm sorry for what you went thru, Posh
 

We have said the word, "allegedly" when referring to the doctor's charges in the case.

Those who are so eager to run to the doctor's defense....read those 3 sentences above written by Posh. Think about it.