ferguson et al city charleston et argued october decided march fall staff members charleston public hospital operated medical university south carolina musc became concerned apparent increase use cocaine patients receiving prenatal treatment incidence cocaine use among maternity patients remained unchanged despite referrals counseling treatment patients tested positive drug musc staff offered cooperate city prosecuting mothers whose children tested positive drugs birth accordingly task force made musc representatives police local officials developed policy set forth procedures identifying testing pregnant patients suspected drug use required chain custody followed obtaining testing patients urine samples provided education treatment referral patients testing positive contained police procedures criteria arresting patients tested positive prescribed prosecutions drug offenses child neglect depending stage defendant pregnancy provisions describing substance abuse treatment offered women testing positive policy made mention change prenatal care patients prescribe special treatment newborns petitioners musc obstetrical patients arrested testing positive cocaine filed suit challenging policy validity inter alia theory warrantless nonconsensual drug tests conducted criminal investigatory purposes unconstitutional searches among actions district instructed jury find petitioners unless consented searches jury found respondents petitioners appealed arguing evidence sufficient support jury consent finding affirming without reaching consent question fourth circuit held searches question reasonable matter law cases recognizing special needs may certain exceptional circumstances justify search policy designed serve ends held state hospital performance diagnostic test obtain evidence patient criminal conduct law enforcement purposes unreasonable search patient consented procedure interest using threat criminal sanctions deter pregnant women using cocaine justify departure general rule official nonconsensual search unconstitutional authorized valid warrant pp musc state hospital staff members government actors subject fourth amendment strictures new jersey moreover urine tests issue indisputably searches within amendment meaning skinner railway labor executives furthermore lower courts viewed case one involving musc right conduct searches without warrants probable cause must assume purposes decision tests performed without patients informed consent pp hospital seeks justify authority conduct drug tests turn results police without patients knowledge consent case differs four previous cases considered whether comparable drug tests fit within closely guarded category constitutionally permissible suspicionless searches see chandler miller see also skinner von raab acton cases employed balancing test weighing intrusion individual privacy interest special needs supported program invasion privacy far substantial cases previous cases misunderstanding purpose test potential use test results protections dissemination results third parties moreover cases involved disqualification eligibility particular benefits unauthorized dissemination test results critical difference however lies nature special need asserted prior cases special need one divorced state general law enforcement interest policy central indispensable feature inception use law enforcement coerce patients substance abuse treatment respondents assertion ultimate purpose namely protecting health mother child benificent one unavailing ultimate goal program may well get women question substance abuse treatment drugs immediate objective searches generate evidence law enforcement purposes order reach goal given purpose given extensive involvement law enforcement officials every stage policy case simply fit within closely guarded category special needs fact positive test results turned police merely provide basis distinguishing prior special needs cases also provides affirmative reason enforcing fourth amendment strictures state hospital employees like citizens may duty provide police evidence criminal conduct inadvertently acquire course routine treatment undertake obtain evidence patients specific purpose incriminating patients special obligation make sure patients fully informed constitutional rights standards knowing waiver require cf miranda arizona pp reversed remanded stevens delivered opinion souter ginsburg breyer joined kennedy filed opinion concurring judgment scalia filed dissenting opinion rehnquist thomas joined part ii crystal ferguson et petitioners city charleston et al writ certiorari appeals fourth circuit march justice stevens delivered opinion case must decide whether state hospital performance diagnostic test obtain evidence patient criminal conduct law enforcement purposes unreasonable search patient consented procedure narrowly question whether interest using threat criminal sanctions deter pregnant women using cocaine justify departure general rule official nonconsensual search unconstitutional authorized valid warrant fall staff members public hospital operated city charleston medical university south carolina musc became concerned apparent increase use cocaine patients receiving prenatal response perceived increase april musc began order drug screens performed urine samples maternity patients suspected using cocaine patient tested positive referred musc staff county substance abuse commission counseling treatment however despite referrals incidence cocaine use among patients musc appear change four months later nurse shirley brown case manager musc obstetrics department heard news broadcast reporting police greenville south carolina arresting pregnant users cocaine theory use harmed fetus therefore child nurse brown discussed story musc general counsel joseph good contacted charleston solicitor charles condon order offer musc cooperation prosecuting mothers whose children tested positive drugs receiving good letter solicitor condon took first steps developing policy issue case organized initial meetings decided participate issued invitations described plan prosecute women tested positive cocaine pregnant task force condon formed included representatives musc police county substance abuse commission department social services deliberations led musc adoption document entitled policy dealing subject management drug abuse pregnancy app pet cert first three pages policy set forth procedure followed hospital staff pregnant patients suspected drug abuse first section entitled identification drug abusers provided patient tested cocaine urine drug screen met one nine also stated chain custody followed obtaining testing urine samples presumably make sure results used subsequent criminal proceedings policy also provided education referral substance abuse clinic patients tested positive important added threat law enforcement intervention provided necessary leverage make olicy effective brief respondents threat respondents candidly acknowledge essential program success getting women treatment keeping threat law enforcement involvement set forth two protocols first dealing identification drug use pregnancy second identification drug use labor latter protocol police notified without delay patient promptly arrested former initial positive drug test police notified patient arrested patient tested positive cocaine second time missed appointment substance abuse however policy modified behest solicitor office give patient tested positive labor like patient tested positive prenatal care visit opportunity avoid arrest consenting substance abuse treatment last six pages policy contained forms patients sign well procedures police follow patient arrested policy also prescribed detail precise offenses woman charged depending stage pregnancy pregnancy weeks less patient charged simple possession weeks charged possession distribution person age case fetus delivered testing positive illegal drugs also charged unlawful neglect child app pet cert policy police instructed interrogate arrestee order ascertain identity subject provided illegal drugs suspect provisions describing substance abuse treatment offered women tested positive policy made mention change prenatal care patients prescribe special treatment newborns ii petitioners women received obstetrical care musc arrested testing positive cocaine four arrested initial implementation policy offered opportunity receive drug treatment alternative arrest others arrested policy modified either failed comply terms drug treatment program tested positive second time respondents include city charleston law enforcement officials helped develop enforce policy representatives musc petitioners complaint challenged validity policy various theories including claim warrantless nonconsensual drug tests conducted criminal investigatory purposes unconstitutional searches respondents advanced two principal defenses constitutional claim matter fact petitioners consented searches matter law searches reasonable even absent consent justified special purposes district rejected second defense searches question done medical university independent purposes instead police came agreement reached positive screens shared police app accordingly district submitted factual defense jury instructions required verdict favor petitioners unless jury found jury found respondents petitioners appealed arguing evidence sufficient support jury consent finding appeals fourth circuit affirmed without reaching question consent disagreeing district majority appellate panel held searches reasonable matter law line cases recognizing special needs may certain exceptional circumstances justify search policy designed serve understanding musc personnel conducted urine drug screens medical purposes wholly independent intent aid law enforcement efforts majority applied balancing test used treasury employees von raab vernonia school dist acton concluded interest curtailing pregnancy complications medical costs associated maternal cocaine use outweighed majority termed minimal intrusion privacy patients dissent judge blake concluded special needs doctrine apply evidence consent insufficient sustain jury verdict granted certiorari review appellate holding special needs issue reach question sufficiency evidence respect consent necessarily assume purposes decision appeals searches conducted without informed consent patients conclude judgment reversed case remanded decision consent issue iii musc state hospital members staff government actors subject strictures fourth amendment new jersey moreover urine tests conducted staff members indisputably searches within meaning fourth amendment skinner railway labor executives neither district appeals concluded nine criteria used identify women searched provided either probable cause believe using cocaine even basis reasonable suspicion use rather district appeals viewed case one involving musc right conduct searches without warrants probable furthermore given posture case comes us must assume purposes decision tests performed without informed consent hospital seeks justify authority conduct drug tests turn results law enforcement agents without knowledge consent patients case differs four previous cases considered whether comparable drug tests fit within closely guarded category constitutionally permissible suspicionless searches chandler miller three cases sustained drug tests railway employees involved train accidents skinner railway labor executives customs service employees seeking promotion certain sensitive positions treasury employees von raab high school students participating interscholastic sports vernonia school dist acton fourth case struck testing candidates designated state offices unreasonable chandler miller cases employed balancing test weighed intrusion individual interest privacy special needs supported program initial matter note invasion privacy case far substantial cases previous four cases misunderstanding purpose test potential use test results protections dissemination results third use adverse test result disqualify one eligibility particular benefit promotion opportunity participate extracurricular activity involves less serious intrusion privacy unauthorized dissemination results third parties reasonable expectation privacy enjoyed typical patient undergoing diagnostic tests hospital results tests shared nonmedical personnel without consent see brief american medical association et al amici curiae brief american public health association et al amici curiae none prior cases intrusion upon kind critical difference four cases one however lies nature special need asserted justification warrantless searches earlier cases special need advanced justification absence warrant individualized suspicion one divorced state general interest law point emphasized majority opinions sustaining programs first three well dissent chandler case however central indispensable feature policy inception use law enforcement coerce patients substance abuse treatment fact distinguishes case circumstances physicians psychologists course ordinary medical procedures aimed helping patient come across information rules law ethics subject reporting requirements one challenged see council ethical judicial affairs american medical association policyfinder current opinions requiring reporting patient threatens inflict serious bodily harm another person reasonable probability patient may carry threat ark code ann requiring reporting intentionally inflicted knife gunshot wounds rev stat ann supp requiring person responsibility care treatment children report suspected abuse neglect peace officer child protection agency respondents argue essence ultimate purpose namely protecting health mother child benificent one chandler however simply accept state invocation special need instead carried close review scheme issue concluding need question special term defined cases case review policy plainly reveals purpose actually served musc searches ultimately indistinguishable general interest crime control indianapolis edmond slip looking programmatic purpose consider available evidence order determine relevant primary purpose see slip case judge blake put dissent clear record initial continuing focus policy arrest prosecution mothers tellingly document codifying policy incorporates police operational guidelines devotes attention chain custody range possible criminal charges logistics police notification arrests nowhere however document discuss different courses medical treatment either mother infant aside treatment mother addiction moreover throughout development application policy charleston prosecutors police extensively involved administration policy police prosecutors decided receive reports positive drug screens information included reports app law enforcement officials also helped determine procedures followed performing see also course policy administration access nurse brown medical files women tested positive routinely attended substance abuse team meetings regularly received copies team documents discussing women progress police took pains coordinate timing circumstances arrests musc staff particular nurse brown ultimate goal program may well get women question substance abuse treatment drugs immediate objective searches generate evidence law enforcement order reach threat law enforcement may ultimately intended means end direct primary purpose musc policy ensure use means opinion distinction critical law enforcement involvement always serves broader social purpose objective respondents view virtually nonconsensual suspicionless search immunized special needs doctrine defining search solely terms ultimate rather immediate approach inconsistent fourth amendment given primary purpose charleston program use threat arrest prosecution order force women treatment given extensive involvement law enforcement officials every stage policy case simply fit within closely guarded category special needs fact positive test results turned police merely provide basis distinguishing prior cases applying special needs balancing approach determination drug use also provides affirmative reason enforcing strictures fourth amendment state hospital employees like citizens may duty provide police evidence criminal conduct inadvertently acquire course routine treatment undertake obtain evidence patients specific purpose incriminating patients special obligation make sure patients fully informed constitutional rights standards knowing waiver cf miranda arizona respondents repeatedly insisted motive benign rather punitive motive however justify departure fourth amendment protections given pervasive involvement law enforcement development application musc policy stark unique fact characterizes case policy designed obtain evidence criminal conduct tested patients turned police admissible subsequent criminal prosecutions respondents correct drug abuse serious problem gravity threat alone dispositive questions concerning means law enforcement officers may employ pursue given purpose indianapolis edmond slip fourth amendment general prohibition nonconsensual warrantless suspicionless searches necessarily applies policy see chandler skinner accordingly judgment appeals reversed case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered crystal ferguson et petitioners city charleston et al writ certiorari appeals fourth circuit march justice kennedy concurring judgment agree search procedure issue sustained fourth amendment reasons conclusion differ somewhat set forth however leading separate opinion dispute search policy level serves special needs beyond ordinary law enforcement need protect health mother child pregnant mother uses cocaine instead majority characterizes special needs ultimate goal policy distinguished policy immediate purpose collection evidence drug use reasons appropriate inquiry special needs analysis ante majority views distinction ultimate goal immediate purpose policy critical analysis ante distinction makes however lacks foundation special needs cases special needs cases turned upon majority terms policy ultimate goal example skinner railway labor executives employed majority distinction identified relevant need collection evidence drug alcohol use railway employees instead identified relevant need government interest regulating conduct railroad employees ensure railroad safety treasury employees von raab majority distinction compelled us isolate relevant need gathering evidence drug abuse drug interdiction officers instead special needs identified necessities deter drug use among eligible promotion sensitive positions within customs service prevent promotion drug users positions vernonia school dist acton majority distinction required us identify immediate purpose gathering evidence drug use relevant need purposes special needs analysis instead sustained policy furthering today majority termed policy ultimate goal eterring drug use nation schoolchildren particularly risk immediate physical harm drug user playing sport particularly high unsurprising prior cases concentrated majority terms policy ultimate goal rather proximate purpose definition almost every case immediate purpose search policy obtain evidence circumstance particular search like searches designed collect evidence sort reveals nothing need serves put different way although procuring evidence immediate result successful search today procurement identified special need justifies search ii majority reasoning seems incorrect respects discussed agree search policy sustained majority demonstrates well explains substantial law enforcement involvement policy inception none special needs precedents sanctioned routine inclusion law enforcement design policy using arrests either threatened real implement system designed special needs objectives special needs cases decided sustain active use law enforcement including arrest prosecutions integral part program seeks achieve legitimate civil objectives traditional warrant requirements waived previous cases explicit assumption evidence obtained search intended used law enforcement purposes tested drug use policy issue brought direct contact law enforcement change fact however systemic matter law enforcement part implementation search policy applications every individual tested positive given letter explaining policy hospital solicitor office everyone tested positive told second positive test failure undergo substance abuse treatment result arrest prosecution holds hospital acted respects institutional arm law enforcement purposes policy circumstances policy may well served legitimate needs unrelated law enforcement well penal character far greater connection law enforcement searches sustained special needs rationale view necessary prudent explicit explaining limitations today decision beginning point acknowledge legitimacy state interest fetal life grave risk life health fetus later child caused cocaine ingestion infants whose mothers abuse cocaine pregnancy born wide variety physical neurological abnormalities see chiriboga brust bateman hauser effect fetal cocaine exposure newborn neurologic function pediatrics finding compared unexposed infants infants experienced higher rates intrauterine growth retardation smaller head circumference global hypertonia coarse tremor extensor leg posture prenatal exposure cocaine also result developmental problems persist long birth see arendt angelopoulos salvator singer motor development children age two years pediatrics concluding two years age children exposed cocaine utero exhibited significantly less fine gross motor development exposed chasnoff et prenatal exposure cocaine drugs outcome four six years annals new york academy sciences harvey kosofsky eds finding four six year olds exposed cocaine utero exhibit higher instances depression anxiety social thought attention problems delinquent aggressive behaviors unexposed counterparts doubt mother ingesting drug cause tragic injury fetus child doubt south carolina impose punishment upon expectant mother little regard unborn risks causing lifelong damage suffering state taking special measures give rehabilitation training expectant mothers tragic addiction weakness acts well within powers civic obligations holding furthermore call question validity mandatory reporting laws child abuse laws require teachers report evidence child abuse proper authorities even arrest prosecution likely result turn highlights real difficulty case comes us reputable sources confirm see farkas training health care human services personnel perinatal substance abuse drug alcohol abuse reviews substance abuse pregnancy childhood watson ed dept health human services substance abuse mental health services administration pregnant women must accept premise medical profession adopt acceptable criteria testing expectant mothers cocaine use order provide prompt effective counseling mother take proper medical steps protect child prosecuting authorities adopt legitimate procedures discover information prosecution follows invalidate testing one ironies case may program review gives cocaine user second third chance might replaced rigorous system must however take case comes us use handcuffs arrests prosecutions police assistance designing implementing testing rehabilitation policy sustained previous cases concerning mandatory testing iii essential distinguishing feature special needs cases person searched consented though usual voluntariness analysis altered adverse consequences dismissal employment disqualification playing high school sports team follow refusal person searched given consent defined take account consent voluntary full sense word see skinner von raab acton consent circumstances given bear upon reasonableness whole special needs program hand question consent even special connotation used special needs cases yet decided indeed finds necessary take unreal step assuming voluntary consent thus erected strange world deciding case discussion endeavored address permissibility law enforcement purpose artificial context role played consent might affected assessment issues concurrence judgment furthermore interpreted considered resolved important questions raised justice scalia reference whether limits might imposed use evidence fact obtained patient consent context special needs program prerogative discuss role played consent case might quite different one agreement course appeals address issues proceedings remand remarks concur judgment crystal ferguson et petitioners city charleston et al writ certiorari appeals fourth circuit march justice scalia chief justice justice thomas join part ii dissenting always unappealing aspect use doctors nurses ministers mercy obtain incriminating evidence supposed objects ministration although correctly pointed doctors nurses ministering mothers also children cooperation police meant protect whatever may correct social judgment concerning desirability occurred issue present case constitution resolve difficult social questions leaves vast majority resolution debate democratic process produce decision citizens charleston elected representatives forbid permit police action issue question us narrower one whether whatever desirability police conduct violates fourth amendment prohibition unreasonable searches seizures view plainly first step fourth amendment analysis identify search seizure issue petitioners lesser extent concurrence really object urine testing hospital reporting positive results police latter obviously search may derivative use product past unlawful search course work new fourth amendment wrong presents question rights remedies calandra one act conceivably regarded search petitioners present case taking urine sample suppose testing urine traces unlawful drugs considered search sorts fourth amendment protects searches citizens persons houses papers effects entirely unrealistic regard urine one effects part property person passed abandoned cf california greenwood garbage left curb property protected fourth amendment argue suppose testing urine prohibited generalized privacy right emanating penumbras constitution question us even arguable testing urine lawfully obtained fourth amendment search may add even factors legitimizing taking sample discuss likewise legitimize testing rudimentary fourth amendment law search consented unreasonable contention present case urine samples extracted forcibly conceivable bases saying obtained without consent contentions consent coerced patients need medical treatment consent uninformed patients told tests include testing drugs consent uninformed patients told results tests provided said reserving factual issue consent see referring three perhaps last two established fourth amendment law last two contentions suffice even without reference doctrine analogizing case miranda arizona claim standards knowing waiver apply ante flatly contradicted jurisprudence shows using lawfully deceivingly obtained material purposes represented giving material information derived police unconstitutional hoffa argument informant failure disclose role government informant vitiated consent petitioner gave agent access evidence criminal wrongdoing rejected argument fourth amendment protect wrongdoer misplaced belief person voluntarily confides wrongdoing reveal defendant voluntarily provided access evidence reasonable expectation privacy invade abuse trust surely sneaky ungentlemanly thing perhaps laws conduct government see supp iv prohibiting intelligence community use journalists agents however immaterial fourth amendment purposes however strongly defendant may trust apparent colleague expectations respect protected fourth amendment turns colleague government agent regularly communicating authorities white emphasis added hoffa line cases may note distinguish operations meant catch criminal act meant gather evidence prior wrongdoing see miller cf illinois perkins relying hoffa holding miranda rule require suppression inmate confession given agent posing fellow prisoner today never held even suggested material person voluntarily entrusts someone else given person police used whatever evidence may without much discussing point today opens hole fourth amendment jurisprudence size shape entirely indeterminate today holding remarkable enough confidential relationship violated police conduct least one protected state law surprising learn example state recognizes spousal evidentiary privilege police use evidence obtained cooperating husband wife today holding goes even beyond since exist privilege south carolina see peagler atlantic coast since declines even discuss issue leaves law enforcement officials entirely dark use incriminating evidence obtained trusted presumably lines drawn development whole new branch fourth amendment jurisprudence taking yet another social judgment confidential relationships invaded police democratic control confiding uncontrolled judgment uncontrolled precedent guide adhere established law says information obtained violation relationship trust obtained consensually hence remains considered first possible basis invalidating search patients coerced produce urine samples necessitous circumstances need medical treatment pregnancy coercion coercion applied government nongovernmental coercion sufficed police never permitted use ballistic evidence obtained treatment patient bullet wound fourth amendment invalidate many state laws require physicians report gunshot evidence spousal like south carolina law relevant see code ann evidence child ii think clear therefore basis saying obtaining urine sample unconstitutional doctrine thus quite irrelevant since operates validate searches seizures otherwise unlawful ensuing discussion however shall assume contrary legal precedent taking urine sample either patients necessitous circumstances failure disclose urine tested drugs failure disclose results test given police coerced indeed shall even assume contrary common sense testing urine constituted unconsented search patients effects assumptions doctrine become relevant properly applied validate done conclusion doctrine inapplicable rests upon contention respondents undert ook obtain drug evidence patients medical purpose specific purpose incriminating patients ante emphasis original words purported medical rationale merely pretext special need see skinner railway labor executives contention contradicts district finding fact goal testing policy arrest patients facilitate treatment protect mother unborn child app pet cert finding binding upon us unless clearly erroneous see fed rule civ proc find supportable think finding overturned cocaine tests started april neither police suggestion police involvement expectant mothers tested positive referred hospital staff treatment ante opinion obvious health benefit mother child see app testimony single use cocaine cause fetal damage since nfants whose mothers abuse cocaine pregnancy born wide variety physical neurological abnormalities ante kennedy concurring judgment require medical attention see brief opposition tests additional medical benefit predicting needed postnatal treatment child thus origin police way involved tests immediate merely ultimate ante opinion purpose improving maternal infant health several months testing initiated nurse discovered local police arresting pregnant users cocaine child abuse hospital general counsel wrote county solicitor ask anything medical center needs assist matter app south carolina law requires child abuse reported see code ann police suggested ways avoid tainting evidence hospital police conjunction used testing program means securing calls ultimate health benefit coercing mothers drug treatment see ante reason believe policy using drug tests ultimate health benefits adopted use original immediate benefits somehow disappeared testing somehow became entirety nothing pretext obtaining grounds arrest face incredible evidence exclusively purpose testing adduced policy describe care infants see ante course since policy adopted months cocaine testing initiated health object ultimate goal inducing drug treatment threat arrest really believe even hope invalidation program challenged decreed drug testing cease sum basis purported ability distinguis case circumstances physicians psychologists course ordinary medical procedures aimed helping patient come across information subject reporting requirements ante unless addition purpose legitimate medical purpose destroys applicability doctrine quite impossible since doctrine developed ordinarily employed precisely enable searches law enforcement officials course ordinarily law enforcement objective thus griffin wisconsin probation officer received tip detective petitioner felon parole possessed firearm accompanied police conducted warrantless search petitioner home weapon found used evidence probationer trial unlawful possession firearm see affirming denial motion suppress concluded special need assuring compliance terms release justified warrantless search petitioner home notably observed probation officer police officer normally conducts searches ordinary citizen employee state department health social services assuredly charged protecting public interest also supposed mind welfare probationer setting think reasonable dispense warrant requirement like probation officer doctors ordinarily conduc searches ordinary citizen supposed mind welfare mother child mind addition provision evidence police make difference suggests police involvement case way incidental make difference outcome see ante griffin even police involved search beginning indeed initial tip gun came detective factors relied upon use evidence approved griffin permitted parole officer untrained procedures known possibility gun present unaccompanied police simply happened upon weapon constitutionally significant baffling petitioners seek distinguish griffin observing probationers enjoy lesser expectation privacy general public irrelevant point make presence law enforcement purpose render doctrine inapplicable event doubt whether griffin reasonable expectation privacy home less petitioners reasonable expectation privacy urine taken urine tests performed hospital especially state south carolina recognizes testimonial privilege requires physician duty confidentiality yield public policy see mccormick england app requires medical conditions indicate violation law reported authorities see code ann child abuse cf whalen roe privacy interest forbid government require hospitals provide law enforcement purposes names patients receiving prescriptions frequently abused drugs concurrence makes essentially basic error though puts point somewhat differently special needs cases decided says sustain active use law enforcement integral part program seeks achieve legitimate civil objectives ante griffin shows true indeed griffin shows even truth limited proposition cases support application exception legitimate civil objectives sought use law enforcement means surely parole officer griffin using threat reincarceration assure compliance parole even latter proposition true invalidate occurred drug testing sought exclusively ultimate health benefits achieved coercing mothers drug treatment threat prosecution fact drug testing sought independently law enforcement involvement immediate health benefits identifying mother child necessary medical treatment concurrence concedes testing conducted medical reasons fact prosecuting authorities adopt legitimate procedures discover information prosecution follows invalidate testing ante emphasis added police involvement case take place testing conducted independent reasons surely concurrence mean procedures preserving chain custody urine sample applied testing procedures must designed testing facts griffin common sense show seems real distinction concurrence must reasonably thought approving police took lesser step initially threatening prosecution rather bringing indicated outset function least fourth amendment cases weigh petitioners privacy interest state interest meeting crisis crack babies developed late refrain observing however outcome wise weighing interests means clear initial goal doctors nurses conducted case refer pregnant drug addicts treatment centers prepare necessary treatment possibly affected children doctors nurses agreed program providing test results police addition fact child abuse required law reported wanted use sanction arrest strong incentive addicted patients undertake treatment police used benign purpose shown fact women testing positive cocaine ever arrested prosecuted see app unreasonable conclude today judgment authorizing assessment damages county solicitor individual doctors nurses participated program proves good deed goes unpunished far fourth amendment concerned unconsented search case validated doctrine reasons respectfully dissent footnotes several witnesses testified trial problem crack babies widely perceived late national epidemic prompting considerable concern medical community among general populace south carolina law viable fetus historically regarded person south carolina held ingestion cocaine third trimester pregnancy constitutes criminal child neglect whitner south carolina cert denied letter dated august good wrote please advise us office anticipating future criminal action anything medical center needs assist matter app pet cert criteria follows prenatal care late prenatal care weeks gestation incomplete prenatal care abruptio placentae intrauterine fetal death preterm labor obvious iugr intrauterine growth retardation obvious previously known drug alcohol abuse unexplained congenital anomalies despite conditional description first category policy initial stages positive test immediately reported police promptly arrested patient instructions read search warrants issued magistrate proper judicial officer permit urine screens taken warrant issued unreasonable violation constitution unless defendants shown greater weight preponderance evidence plaintiffs consented searches app judge instructions order find plaintiffs consented searches necessary jury find consented taking samples testing evidence cocaine possible disclosure test results police respondents argued justice scalia permissible members staff public hospital use diagnostic tests deceivingly obtain incriminating evidence patients see post dissenting opinion term special needs first appeared justice blackmun opinion concurring judgment new jersey concurrence justice blackmun agreed limited exceptions requirement reasonableness determined careful balancing governmental private interests concluded test applied exceptional circumstances special needs beyond normal need law enforcement make warrant requirement impracticable ibid subsequently adopted special needs terminology ortega plurality opinion griffin wisconsin concluding limited circumstances search unsupported either warrant probable cause constitutional special needs normal need law enforcement provide sufficient justification see also vernonia school district acton majority stated district made finding text relevant finding made context petitioners abandoned title vi claim reads follows policy applied maternity departments musc goal arrest patients facilitate treatment protect mother unborn child app pet cert finding however must read light comment district respect fourth amendment claim searches done medical university independent purposes implicate fourth amendment obviously point page normally urine screens blood tests type thing taken health care providers without worry fourth amendment reason fourth amendment implicated police came agreement reached positive screens shared police screen done independent police done conjunction police implicates fourth amendment app arguing urine tests issue searches dissent attempts disaggregate taking testing urine sample reporting results police see post however special needs cases routinely treated urine screens taken state agents searches within meaning fourth amendment even though results reported police see chandler miller vernonia school dist acton skinner railway labor executives treasury employees von raab respondents contend tests searches rather argue searches justified consent special needs brief respondents argue searches entirely suspicionless brief respondents however point evidence record indicating nine search criteria apt caused cocaine use factor malnutrition illness indigency significantly legal argument reasoning majority panel opinion rest premise policy valid even tests conducted randomly dissent us otherwise resolve issue consent favor respondents appeals discuss issue think prudent allow resolve legal factual issues first instance express view issues see glover national collegiate athletic assn smith chandler acton skinner von raab circumstances state hospital employees like citizens may duty provide law enforcement officials evidence criminal conduct acquired course routine treatment see code ann physicians nurses required report child welfare agency law enforcement authority person professional capacity person receives information child abused neglected existence laws might lead patient expect members hospital staff might turn evidence acquired course treatment patient consented surely lead patient anticipate hospital staff intentionally set obtain incriminating evidence patients law enforcement purposes fact previously recognized intrusion expectation may adverse consequences may deter patients receiving needed medical care whalen roe cf poland dombrowski ager sokol punishing pregnant drug users enhancing flight care drug alcohol dependence chief justice recently noted special needs doctrine used uphold certain suspicionless searches performed reasons unrelated law enforcement exception general rule search must based individualized suspicion wrongdoing indianapolis edmond slip dissenting opinion see also nn infra made point distinguishing searches carried school authorities acting alone authority conducted conjunction behest law enforcement agencies dissent however relying griffin wisconsin argues special needs doctrine ordinarily employed precisely enable searches law enforcement officials course ordinarily law enforcement objective post viewed context special needs case law even viewed isolation griffin support proposition dissent invokes special needs cases tolerated suspension fourth amendment warrant probable cause requirement part law enforcement purpose behind searches cases little entanglement law enforcement see skinner von raab acton moreover decision griffin reserved question whether routine use criminal prosecutions evidence obtained pursuant administrative scheme give rise inference pretext otherwise impugn administrative nature program skinner griffin noted lthough probation officer impartial magistrate neither police officer normally conducts searches ordinary citizen finally agree petitioners griffin properly read limited fact probationers lesser expectation privacy public large skinner railway labor executives noted fra prescribed toxicological tests assist prosecution employees rather prevent accidents casualties railroad operations result impairment employees alcohol drugs quoting cfr similarly treasury employees von raab concluded clear customs service program designed serve ordinary needs law enforcement test results may used criminal prosecution employee without employee consent vein acton relied part fact results tests disclosed limited class school personnel need know turned law enforcement authorities used internal disciplinary function finding searches reasonable today opinion speaks closely guarded class permissible suspicionless searches must justified special need term used skinner von raab relies used quite different sense used today skinner von raab used describe basis search apart regular needs law enforcement skinner von raab special needs inquiry delineated required especially great importan ce unless one considers supervision probationers operation government office skinner supra especially important precedents proper governmental purpose law enforcement special need fourth amendment required familiar balancing interest individual privacy interest chandler miller rehnquist dissenting emphasis distinction make clear contrary hyperbole dissent view reporting requirements clearly bad see post requirements simply issue accordingly police organized meeting staff police hospital laboratory staffs well nurse brown police went concept chain custody system musc staff app italicize words lest reasoning misunderstood see post kennedy concurring judgment none previous special needs cases upheld collection evidence criminal law enforcement purposes essential point justice kennedy extensive entanglement law enforcement justified reference legitimate needs according dissent fact musc performed tests prior development policy immunize subsequent testing policy despite presence law enforcement purpose extensive law enforcement involvement see post say therapeutic purpose disappear simply miss point matters new policy developed solicitor office musc law enforcement involvement means therapeutic purpose met policy core predicated use law enforcement extensive involvement law enforcement threat prosecution respondents admitted essential program success accordingly case differs new york burger upheld scheme police officers used carry administrative inspections vehicle dismantling businesses case involved industry expectation privacy commercial premises particularly attenuated given extent industry question closely regulated important purposes relied plain administrative purposes scheme reject contention statute fact designed gather evidence enable convictions penal laws discovery evidence violations merely incidental purposes administrative search contrast case policy specifically designed gather evidence violations penal laws case also differs handful seizure cases applied balancing test determine fourth amendment reasonableness see michigan dept state police sitz first cases involved roadblock seizures rather intrusive search body home see indianapolis edmond slip rehnquist dissenting deal neither searches sanctity private dwellings ordinarily afforded stringent fourth amendment protection second explicitly distinguished cases dealing checkpoints dealing special needs sitz thus respondents approach search generate evidence use police enforcing general criminal laws justified reference broad social benefits laws might bring put another way social harms might prevent especially difficult argue program designed simply save lives amici claim near consensus medical community programs sort issue discouraging women use drugs seeking prenatal care harm rather advance cause prenatal health see brief american medical association amicus curiae brief american public health association et al amici curiae brief naral foundation et al amici curiae fact musc staff made distinction see pl exh hulsey coke committee use medically indicated tests substance abuse obtained conventional manners must distinguished mandatory screening collection evidence using methods chain custody etc question raised whether pediatricians function law enforcement officials reporting criminal activity appropriate authorities may required ethically active pursuit evidence used individuals presenting medical care may proper dissent however mischaracterizes opinion holding material person voluntarily entrusts someone else given person police used whatever evidence may contain post noted elsewhere given posture case must assume purposes decision patients consent searches leave question consent appeals determine see supra dissent argues holding leaves law enforcement officials entirely dark use incriminating evidence obtained trusted sources see post due respect disagree address case doctors independently complied reporting requirements rather point case medical personnel used criteria set supra collect evidence law enforcement purposes law enforcement officers extensively involved initiation design implementation program circumstances fourth amendment general prohibition nonconsensual warrantless suspicionless searches applies absence consent decline accept dissent invitation make foray dicta address situations us footnotes asserts improper disaggregate taking testing urine sample reporting results police special needs cases routinely treated urine screens taken state agents searches within meaning fourth amendment ante cases urine obtained involuntarily see chandler miller vernonia school dist acton skinner railway labor executives treasury employees von raab taking urine sample unconsented thus fourth amendment search subsequent testing reporting results police obviously part infected search taking sample fourth amendment search necessary consider separately whether testing reporting hoffa say fourth amendment violated guileful well forcible intrusions constitutionally protected area found fourth amendment violation government agent obtained access defendant office pretext social visit carried away private papers guile rather force used go beyond scope consented access evidence whereas search gouled invalidated search approved lewis equally guileful agent stayed within bounds access defendant home carrying away package drugs voluntarily provided contends opinion leave law enforcement officials dark use incriminating evidence trusted sources since es address case doctors independently complied reporting requirements ante find hard understand addressing point fails leave enshrouded darkness unless means reporting requirements clearly bad voluntary betrayal trust mere cooperation police constitutes fourth amendment search surely betrayal trust direction legislature must event reporting requirements infinitesimal part problem doctor spouse voluntary provision information police without compulsion statute contends mischaracteriz ing opinion since merely assum ing purposes decision patients consent searches leaves question consent appeals determine ante responsive question consent leaves open whether patients consented merely taking urine samples drug testing particular provision results police consent taking samples alone even taking samples plus drug testing suffice contention question sufficiency limited consent us respondents raise see ante simply mistaken part ii respondents brief entitled petitioners consented searches argues petitioners freely voluntarily provided urine samples petitioners signed consent treatment form authorized musc medical staff conduct necessary tests urine samples including drug tests precedent fourth amendment search seizure jurisprudence imposes requirement searching agency inform consenting party results search turned law enforcement brief respondent brief specifically takes issue district charge jury chooses accept unexaminable given see ante respondents required show petitioners consented musc disclosing information law enforcement brief respondent sum think clear disposition requires holding violation relationship trust constitutes search opinion implies description issue left appeals remand see ante whether tests performed without informed consent patients ante emphasis added informed urine tested drugs results given police happy course accept illogical assurance intends holding urge appeals remand see cal penal code ann west supp penal law mckinney code ann supp see cal penal code ann west supp rev stat contends us resolve issue consent favor respondents whereas opinion prudent ly allow appeals resolve legal factual issues first instance express es view issues ante entirely resolve factual issue whether consent drug testing providing results police neither resolve legal issue whether consent necessary see ante since concludes necessary factual inquiry left fourth circuit remand since conclude necessary since one contends taking urine sample unconsented analysis factual consent issue remaining believes finding must read light district comment searches done medical university independent purposes police came agreement reached positive screens shared police screen done independent police done conjunction police implicates fourth amendment ante quoting app shows explicit finding medical purpose finding exclusive medical purpose discussed later text doctrine contains exclusivity requirement