Excited delirium
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Excited delirium is a term used to describe a varying group of symptoms resulting from multiple severe problems. Excited delirium usually is associated with adult males between 18 to 40 years of age, with a history of excessive drug abuse, and or medical/psychological history. Most deaths from excited delirium show the victim had used stimulant drugs; the most common was cocaine, which gave this condition its previous name of cocaine excited delirium. It is a cause of death listed by medical examiners where restrained people die in police custody. Medical examiners recognize excited delirium as a legitimate cause of death.
Civil-rights groups argue that it is a made-up phrase to absolve police of guilt in restraining people during arrests. "Their argument comes down to a basic question: Why is it that the only people who ever die of "excited delirium" are those who die while being restrained by police."[1] [2]
Most cases have been attributed to police use of force but there are cases of the victim, who was restrained and transported by friends or family, dying when in the custody of medical personnel[3]. Police and EMS are usually called due to the signs/symptoms manifested buy the victim due to concerns of public safety or criminal acts. Those signs/symptoms typically associated with excited delirium are:
- Bizarre and violent behavior, most common violence towards glass
- Removal of clothing, public nudity (even in cold weather)
- Aggression
- Hyperactivity
- Extreme Paranoia
- Hallucination
- Incoherent speak or shouting
- Grunting or animal-like sounds
- Incredible strength or endurance (typically noticed during attempts to restrain victim)
- Impervious to pain (observed during violent acts or restraint)
- Hyperthermia (over-heating)/profuse sweating (even in cold weather)
New studies suggest a person experiencing excited delirium need to be quickly helped by cooling their body temperature, and calming them or sedating them. It has been suggested due to deaths attributed to excited delirium occurring in hospitals with medical professionals helping them that there is a plateau in which no matter what is done for the victim the end results will still be fatal. The important thing is to intervene earlier in the curve to help the victim.
Other medical conditions that can resemble excited delirium are hyperthermia, diabetes, head injury, delirium tremens, thyroid storm[4]..
[edit] Cases
[edit] Reference
- ^ Death by Excited Delirium: Diagnosis or Coverup?. NPR. Retrieved on 2007-02-26.
- ^ Excited Delirium: Police Brutality vs. Sheer Insanity. ABCNews (March 2, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-03-13.
- ^ Death of psychiatric patient during physical restraint. Excited Delirium.. PubMed (January, 2001). Retrieved on 2007-03-13.
- ^ What other medical emergencies can look like excited delirium?. PoliceOne.com (October, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-03-26.
- ^ Was It 'Excited Delirium' Or Police Brutality?. 60 Minutes (December 10, 2003). Retrieved on 2007-02-26.
[edit] External links
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