winston lee argued october decided march shopkeeper wounded gunshot attempted robbery also armed gun apparently wounded assailant left side assailant ran scene shortly victim taken hospital police officers found respondent suffering gunshot wound left chest area eight blocks away shooting also taken hospital victim identified assailant investigation police charged respondent inter alia attempted robbery malicious wounding thereafter commonwealth virginia moved state order directing respondent undergo surgery remove bullet lodged left collarbone asserting bullet provide evidence respondent guilt innocence basis expert testimony surgery require incision inch performed local anesthesia result danger basis general anesthesia employed granted motion virginia denied respondent petition writ prohibition writ habeas corpus respondent brought action federal district enjoin pending operation fourth amendment grounds refused issue preliminary injunction subsequently rays taken surgery scheduled showed bullet lodged substantially deeper thought state granted motion compel surgery surgeon concluded general anesthetic desirable respondent unsuccessfully sought rehearing state trial virginia affirmed however respondent returned federal district evidentiary hearing enjoined threatened surgery appeals affirmed held proposed surgery violate respondent right secure person search unreasonable fourth amendment pp compelled surgical intrusion individual body evidence implicates expectations privacy security magnitude intrusion may unreasonable even likely produce evidence crime reasonableness surgical intrusions beneath skin depends approach individual interests privacy security weighed society interests conducting procedure obtain evidence fairly determining guilt innocence appropriate framework analysis cases provided schmerber california held state may suspect protest physician extract blood person suspected drunken driving without violating suspect fourth amendment rights beyond threshold requirements probable cause warrants schmerber inquiry considered factors determining reasonableness including extent procedure may threaten individual safety health extent intrusion upon individual dignitary interests personal privacy bodily integrity community interest fairly accurately determining guilt innocence pp schmerber balancing test lower federal courts reached correct result threats respondent safety posed surgery subject sharp dispute conflict testimony concerning nature scope operation thus resulting uncertainty medical risks properly taken account moreover intrusion respondent privacy interests bodily integrity characterized severe surgery without patient consent performed general anesthetic search evidence crime involves virtually total divestment patient ordinary control surgical probing beneath skin hand commonwealth assertions compelling need intrude respondent body retrieve bullet persuasive commonwealth available substantial additional evidence respondent individual accosted victim pp brennan delivered opinion burger white marshall powell stevens joined burger filed concurring opinion post blackmun rehnquist concurred judgment stacy garrett iii argued cause filed brief petitioners joseph ryland winston argued cause filed briefs respondent justice brennan delivered opinion schmerber california held inter alia state may suspect protest physician extract blood person suspected drunken driving without violation suspect right secured fourth amendment subjected unreasonable searches seizures however schmerber cautioned today hold constitution forbid minor intrusions individual body stringently limited conditions way indicates permits substantial intrusions intrusions conditions case commonwealth virginia seeks compel respondent rudolph lee suspected attempting commit armed robbery undergo surgical procedure general anesthetic removal bullet lodged chest petitioners allege bullet provide evidence respondent guilt innocence conclude procedure sought example substantial intrusion cautioned schmerber hold permit procedure violate respondent right secure person guaranteed fourth amendment approximately july ralph watkinson closing shop night locking door observed someone armed gun coming toward across street watkinson also armed drew gun person told freeze watkinson fired person returned fire watkinson hit legs individual appeared wounded left side ran scene police arrived scene shortly thereafter watkinson taken ambulance emergency room medical college virginia mcv hospital approximately minutes later police officers responding another call found respondent eight blocks earlier shooting occurred respondent suffering gunshot wound left chest area told police shot two individuals attempted rob ambulance took respondent mcv hospital watkinson still mcv emergency room respondent entered room said hat man shot app investigation police decided respondent story victim robbery untrue charged respondent attempted robbery malicious wounding two counts using firearm commission felony commonwealth shortly thereafter moved state order directing respondent undergo surgery remove object thought bullet lodged left collarbone conducted several evidentiary hearings motion first hearing commonwealth expert testified surgical procedure take minutes involve three four percent chance temporary nerve damage one percent chance permanent nerve damage one percent chance death second hearing expert testified reexamination respondent discovered bullet back inside close nerves arteries originally thought instead believed bullet located beneath skin testified surgery require incision one centimeters slightly inch performed local anesthesia result danger basis general anesthesia employed state trial judge granted motion compel surgery respondent petitioned virginia writ prohibition writ habeas corpus denied respondent brought action district eastern district virginia enjoin pending operation fourth amendment grounds refused issue preliminary injunction holding respondent cause little likelihood success merits supp october surgery scheduled surgeon ordered rays taken respondent chest rays revealed bullet fact lodged two three centimeters approximately one inch deep muscular tissue respondent chest substantially deeper thought state granted motion compel surgery surgeon believed general anesthetic desirable medical reasons respondent moved state trial rehearing based new evidence holding evidentiary hearing state trial denied rehearing virginia affirmed respondent returned federal moved alter amend judgment previously entered evidentiary hearing district enjoined threatened surgery supplemental opinion divided panel appeals fourth circuit affirmed granted certiorari consider whether state may consistently fourth amendment compel suspect undergo surgery kind search evidence crime ii fourth amendment protects expectations privacy see katz individual legitimate expectations certain places certain times right let alone comprehensive rights right valued civilized men olmstead brandeis dissenting putting one side procedural protections warrant requirement fourth amendment generally protects security persons houses papers effects official intrusions point community need evidence surmounts specified standard ordinarily probable cause beyond point ordinarily justifiable community demand individual give part interest privacy security advance community vital interests law enforcement search generally reasonable amendment terms compelled surgical intrusion individual body evidence however implicates expectations privacy security magnitude intrusion may unreasonable even likely produce evidence crime schmerber california addressed claim state breached fourth amendment protection right people secure persons unreasonable searches seizures emphasis added compelled individual suspected drunken driving undergo blood test schmerber arrested hospital receiving treatment injuries suffered automobile driving struck tree despite schmerber objection police officer hospital directed physician take blood sample schmerber subsequently objected introduction trial evidence obtained result blood test authorities schmerber clearly probable cause believe driving intoxicated believe blood test provide evidence exceptionally probative confirming belief case fell within exception warrant requirement warrant necessary ibid search intrusive reasonably necessary accomplish goals nonetheless schmerber argued fourth amendment prohibited authorities intruding body extract blood needed evidence schmerber noted overriding function fourth amendment protect personal privacy dignity unwarranted intrusion state citing wolf colorado mapp ohio observed values basic free society also noted ecause dealing intrusions human body rather state interferences property relationships private papers houses papers effects write clean slate intrusion perhaps implicated schmerber personal expectations privacy recognized fourth amendment analysis thus required discerning inquiry facts circumstances determine whether intrusion justifiable fourth amendment neither forbids permits intrusions rather amendment proper function constrain intrusions intrusions justified circumstances made improper manner reasonableness surgical intrusions beneath skin depends approach individual interests privacy security weighed society interests conducting procedure given case question whether community need evidence outweighs substantial privacy interests stake delicate one admitting categorical answers believe schmerber however provides appropriate framework analysis cases schmerber recognized ordinary requirements fourth amendment threshold requirements conducting kind surgical search seizure noted importance probable cause pointed search warrants ordinarily required searches dwellings absent emergency less required intrusions human body concerned importance informed detached deliberate determinations issue whether invade another body search evidence guilt indisputable great beyond standards schmerber inquiry considered number factors determining reasonableness blood test crucial factor analyzing magnitude intrusion schmerber extent procedure may threaten safety health individual people blood test involves virtually risk trauma pain moreover reasonable medical precautions taken unusual untested procedures employed schmerber procedure performed physician hospital environment according accepted medical practices ibid notwithstanding existence probable cause search evidence crime may unjustifiable endangers life health suspect another factor extent intrusion upon individual dignitary interests personal privacy bodily integrity intruding individual living room see payton new york eavesdropping upon individual telephone conversations see katz forcing individual accompany police officers police station see dunaway new york typically injure physical person individual intrusions however damage individual sense personal privacy security thus subject fourth amendment dictates noting blood test commonplace days periodic physical examinations schmerber recognized society judgment blood tests constitute unduly extensive imposition individual personal privacy bodily integrity weighed individual interests community interest fairly accurately determining guilt innocence interest course great importance noted schmerber blood test highly effective means determining degree person influence alcohol moreover clear indication fact desired evidence found blood test undertaken especially given difficulty proving drunkenness means considerations showed results blood test vital importance state enforce drunken driving laws schmerber concluded state interest sufficient justify intrusion compelled blood test thus reasonable fourth amendment purposes iii applying schmerber balancing test case believe appeals reached correct result commonwealth plainly probable cause conduct search addition parties apparently agree respondent full measure procedural protections able fully litigate difficult medical legal questions necessarily involved analyzing reasonableness surgical incision magnitude inquiry therefore must focus extent intrusion respondent privacy interests state need evidence threats health safety respondent posed surgery subject sharp dispute parties new revelations october district found procedure carried virtually risk respondent rehearing however new evidence district held risks previously involved increased magnitude even new risks added appeals examined medical evidence record found respondent suffer risks associated surgical procedure one surgeon testified difficulty discovering exact location bullet require extensive probing retracting muscle tissue carrying concomitant risks injury muscle well injury nerves blood vessels tissue chest pleural cavity noted greater intrusion larger incisions increase risks infection ibid moreover conflict testimony concerning nature scope operation one surgeon stated take minutes another predicted procedure take two hours ibid properly took resulting uncertainty medical risks account lower courts case believed proposed surgery purely medical reasons required use general anesthetic extensive intrusion respondent personal privacy bodily integrity ibid conducted consent patient surgery requiring general anesthesia necessarily demeaning intrusive case surgeon carrying patient concerning patient body patient right privacy therefore preserved case however appeals noted commonwealth proposes take control respondent body drug citizen yet convicted criminal offense narcotics barbiturates state unconsciousness search beneath skin evidence crime kind surgery involves virtually total divestment respondent ordinary control surgical probing beneath skin part balance concerns commonwealth need intrude respondent body retrieve bullet commonwealth claims need bullet demonstrate fired watkinson gun turn show respondent robber confronted watkinson however although recognize difficulty making determinations advance strength case respondent petitioners assertions compelling need bullet hardly persuasive circumstances relied case demonstrate probable cause believe evidence found tend vitiate commonwealth need compel respondent undergo surgery commonwealth available substantial additional evidence respondent individual accosted watkinson night robbery party case suggests watkinson entirely spontaneous identification respondent hospital inadmissible addition petitioners doubt prove watkinson found blocks watkinson store shortly incident took place petitioners certainly show location bullet respondent left collarbone seems correlate watkinson report robber jerked left app fact commonwealth available substantial evidence origin bullet restricts need commonwealth compel respondent undergo contemplated surgery weighing various factors case therefore reach conclusion courts operation sought intrude substantially respondent protected interests medical risks operation although apparently extremely severe subject considerable dispute uncertainty militates finding operation reasonable addition intrusion respondent privacy interests entailed operation characterized severe hand although bullet may turn useful commonwealth prosecuting respondent commonwealth failed demonstrate compelling need believe circumstances commonwealth failed demonstrate reasonable terms fourth amendment search evidence crime means contemplated surgery iv fourth amendment vital safeguard right citizen free unreasonable governmental intrusions area reasonable expectation privacy found lesser expectation privacy see rakas illinois south dakota opperman search involves minimal intrusion privacy interests see hensley dunaway new york adams williams terry ohio held fourth amendment protections correspondingly less stringent conversely however fourth amendment command searches reasonable requires state seeks intrude upon area society recognizes significantly heightened privacy interest substantial justification required make search reasonable applying principles hold proposed search case unreasonable fourth amendment affirmed footnotes respondent moved reopen petition habeas corpus well alter amend judgment petitioners moved dismiss petition habeas ground respondent time custody purposes district rejected contention holding habeas available respondent objecting future custody take place operation performed appeals held respondent claim cognizable respondent review holding therefore us fourth circuit held allen mccurry supra bar respondent attempt relitigate federal fourth amendment issues previously litigated state agreed district conclusion see respondent full fair opportunity litigate state trial respondent filed motion rehearing state october day informed changed circumstances regarding removal bullet october state ordered evidentiary hearing held october appeals satisfied record counsel able despite obviously diligent effort obtain independent review medical record outside physicians able consult independent expert anesthesiology order prepare presentation risks general anesthesia yet despite crucial nature medical evidence state refused grant respondent repeated request continuance arbitrary truncation preparation time deprived respondent fair opportunity determine crucial factors relevant claim obtain independent expert witnesses testify factors appeals refused grant preclusive effect state findings petitioners challenge ruling numerous courts recognized crucial importance factor see bowden state ark refusing order surgery medical risk people smith misc state allen see also case widener dissenting crowder app en banc cert denied state overstreet mo en banc see generally note marq rev discussing cases involving bodily intrusions note notre dame rev note texas rev mandell richardson surgical search removing scar fourth amendment crim see also schmerber blood test procedure become routine everyday life ritual going military service well applying marriage licenses many colleges require tests permitting entrance literally millions us voluntarily gone though longer routine becoming blood donors quoting breithaupt abram degree intrusion schmerber minimized well fact blood test involves virtually risk trauma pain fact blood test conducted hospital environment according accepted medical practices ibid procedure schmerber contrasted sharply practice rochin california police officers broke suspect room attempted extract narcotics capsules put mouth took hospital directed emetic administered induce vomiting rochin recognizing individual interest human dignity held search seizure unconstitutional due process clause state afforded respondent benefit full adversary presentation appellate review reach question whether state may compel suspect undergo surgical search magnitude evidence absent special procedural protections cf crowder supra state lawson super app div appeals concluded however specific physical risks putting respondent general anesthesia may therefore considered minimal testimony shown general risks harm death general anesthesia quite low respondent statistical group persons lowest risk injury general anesthesia ibid one expert testified minor surgery see app question whether surgery characterized medical terms major minor controlling agree appeals district case reason suppose definition medical term art coincide parameters constitutional standard quoted accord state overstreet mean application medical concepts cases ignored however specific medical categorization control multifaceted legal inquiry must undertake somewhat different issues raised use general anesthetic became necessary patient refusal cooperate cf state lawson supra also questions concerning probative value bullet even retrieved evidentiary value bullet depends comparison markings bullet respondent shoulder markings found test bullet police fire watkinson gun however record supports doubt whether kind comparison possible bullet markings may corroded time bullet respondent shoulder thus making useless comparison purposes see addition respondent argues given gun may incapable firing bullets consistent set markings see joling overview firearms identification evidence attorneys salient features firearms evidence forensic sci record devoid evidence police attempted watkinson gun thus remains additional possibility comparison bullets impossible watkinson gun consistently fire bullets markings however courts made findings point hesitate give significant weight analysis chief justice burger concurring join read opinion preventing detention individual reasonable grounds believe natural bodily functions disclose presence contraband materials secreted internally