[Scan-DC] Meaning of "ETOH"

[LtBrown122@aol.com]

Hi,

Yes you are correct. Over the radio we are not allowed to say someone is drunk because that would technically be considered defamation. So we have to say ETOH to describe the situation. On another note - at least in Montgomery County - we are no longer allowed to use the term M.O. This was an abbreviation for Mentally Obstructed or Mentally off but generally decsribed some of our more animated psychiatric patients. They would be termed either Violent or non violent. Now we have to call them "Consumers". 

I think this falls into line when we had to stop calling vehicle crashes MVA's. Motor Vehicle Accidents. This was apparently another polictal correctness move - because some administrator at some level decided that accidents are something that cannot be avoided. But collisions are something that can be avoided and are usually due to someone's driver error. So we had to call them PIC - Personal Injury Collision or Property Damage Collsion. 

Just some notes - hope this is helpful.

Joe