Seizure of Bodily Samples
| This page was last substantively updated or reviewed March 2021. (Rev. # 93082) |
Introduction
Bodily samples cannot be taken without a warrant where the subject does not consent.[1]
There are several methods of obtaining bodily samples:
- general warrant (s. 487);
- DNA Sample (s. 487.05);
- blood sample demand (s. 320.28);
- blood sample warrant (s. 320.29);
- bodily impressions (s. 487.092)
A bodily sample can also be obtained by consent.[2]
- ↑ R v Tomaso, (1989), 70 CR (3d) 152 (*no CanLII links)
- ↑ See Consent Search
General DNA Sample Seizure (s.487.05)
Blood Sample Seizure in Impaired Driving Investigations (320.28, 320.29)
Body Print Impression Warrant (487.092)
Obtaining Blood Samples by General Warrant (487)
Where a nurse takes a blood sample from a patient as part of her regular course of duties, it is available to the police to obtain a warrant to seize the sample as evidence.
Blood taken by a nurse as part of hospital procedure will still be protected by an expectation of privacy.[1]
Where an officer directs the nurse to store a blood sample for a period beyond the time intended by the hospital, it will effectively enter into the custody of police.[2]
- ↑
R v Dyment, 1988 CanLII 10 (SCC), [1988] 2 SCR 417, per Lamer J
- ↑ R v Pike, 2010 NLTD 97 (CanLII), 918 APR 342, per Thompson J