Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Albany County rendered upon a verdict convicting defendant of the crime of criminal negligence in the operation of a vehicle resulting in death (Penal Law, § 1053-a). Defendant attacks the conviction on a number of grounds, (1) On the trial, a chemist testified that analysis of a sample of defendant’s blood revealed the presence of 0.18% ethyl alcohol and a physician testified that such an alcoholic level “ signifies a definite impairment of ability ” to operate an automobile. It developed on the trial that neither witness testified before the Grand Jury and defendant contends that there was, on that account, insufficient evidence before that body to support the specification of the indictment that defendant operated his automobile “ while he was under the influence of intoxicating beverages ”. It was shown on the trial, however, that the proof there of defendant’s admission that he had been drinking beer in two taverns, from noon until some time before the accident, which occurred at 4:09 p.m., was also before the Grand Jury and this evidence seems to us sufficient to sustain the specification quoted, which did not charge intoxication. Further, the evidence on the trial did not exclude the possibility that lay testimony as to defendant’s condition was adduced before the Grand Jury. “ The presumption is that an indictment is based upon legal and sufficient evidence until there is satisfactory proof to the contrary ”. (People v. Sweeney, 213 N. Y. 37, 44; see, also, People v. Howell, 3 N Y 2d 672.) (2) The exhibits in evidence were taken to the juryroom without defendant’s consent. (Code Crim. Pro., § 425.) They included photographs of the automobiles involved, taken at the accident scene, and containers, which had been cleansed after use, in which specimens of the blood of defendant and of the operator of the other automobile involved had been delivered to the laboratory, the latter exhibits bearing identifying marks and having been received in evidence in connection with the People’s proof of an unbroken chain of possession. There appears to us to be nothing about any of the exhibits which might have an inflammatory effect upon the minds of the jurors or prejudice their fair appraisement of the evidence. The jury had examined them during the trial and defendant’s counsel in his summation, had said: “Take the pictures with you. Look at them and see if there isn’t sufficient room.” We do not consider the error so substantial as to warrant reversal. (People v. Dolan, 186 N. Y. 4; Code Crim. Pro., § 542.) In People v. Dockum (285 App. Div. 510), upon which appellant relies, at least one of the exhibits (as appears from the record on appeal), was clearly of an inflammatory nature in view of the circumstances proven. (3) It is urged that the testimony of a doctor who removed a sample of defendant’s blood was privileged (Civ. Prac. Act, § 352). Following the accident defendant was taken to a hospital and was interviewed in the emergency room by two State troopers who testified that they, or one of them, asked defendant if he would consent to a blood test to determine the amount of alcohol
