Excited delirium

Excited delirium is a controversial term used to explain deaths of individuals in police custody, in which the person being arrested, detained, or restrained is highly agitated and may be under the influence of stimulants.^[1] The term has no formal medical recognition and is not recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, but has been listed as the cause of death by some government medical examiners. There may also be a controversial link between "excited delirium" deaths and the use of Tasers to subdue agitated people.^[2] In August 2007, three months before Robert Dziekański died shortly after being tasered at Vancouver International Airport, Royal Canadian Mounted Police changed its protocol on Taser use, from discouraging multiple Taser shocks to suggesting that multiple shocks may bring a subject under control more quickly, under certain circumstances. It was suggested that multiple taser jolts may lessen the risks of prolonged and dangerous struggle.^[3]

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Disputed validity

Some civil-rights groups argue that the term is being used to absolve police of guilt while possibly overly restraining people during arrests. The cause of death only appears where police are involved in restraining individuals.^[4][5] This does not include those deaths in chemical dependance treatment, EMS, hospital, or psychiatric care facilities who die while being restrained or while in seclusion.

Eric Balaban of the American Civil Liberties Union said: "I know of no reputable medical organization — certainly not the American Medical Association (AMA) or the American Psychological Association (APA) that recognizes excited delirium as a medical or mental-health condition."^[4] Melissa Smith of the American Medical Association said the organization has "no official policy" on the disorder.^[5]

Symptoms

Those signs/symptoms typically associated with excited delirium are:^{[citation needed]}

• Bizarre and violent behavior, most commonly violence towards glass
• Removal of clothing, public nudity (even in cold weather)
• Aggression
• Hyperactivity
• Paranoia^[6]
• Hallucination
• Incoherent speech or shouting^[6][7]
• Grunting or animal-like sounds
• Incredible strength or endurance (typically noticed during attempts to restrain victim)^[6][7]
• Imperviousness to pain (observed during violent acts or restraint)
• Hyperthermia (overheating)/profuse sweating (even in cold weather)^[7]

Other medical conditions that can resemble excited delirium are panic attack, hyperthermia, diabetes, head injury, delirium tremens, thyroid storm^[8].

Cases

Nathaniel Jones: his death while in custody of Cincinnati police was first attributed to excited delirium.^[7][4] In a lawsuit over the death of Mr. Jones, some facts related to excited delirium were disputed.^[9] The defendants in the trial court proceedings asserted that: 1) the decedent was resisting arrest; 2) reasonable force was used in an attempt to restrain him; and 3) excited delirium was the cause of death.^[9] The plaintiffs claimed that: 1) the officers used excessive force; 2) the decedent died from compressive asphyxia caused by police officers whose entire weight was on his body; and 3) the decedent was not resisting but rather attempting to reposition his body so he could breathe.^[9] The trial court found that the plaintiffs sufficiently stated a claim of excessive force.^[9]

Toney Steele: one of the first high-profile cases involving question of excited delirium; died in San Diego in the back of a patrol car.^[7]

Kevin Geldart: died after police, in an effort to restrain him, shot him multiple times with a Taser gun and sprayed him with pepper spray.^[5]

Roger Holyfield: the 17-year-old died October 29, 2006, the day after Jerseyville, Illinois police shocked him repeatedly with a Taser gun. "Holyfield died of natural causes after being restrained by the police, which occurred as a result of an episode of excited delirium," according to Jerseyville officials. [1]

Frederick Williams: died hours after police shocked him repeatedly with a Taser while in custody. After Williams' family announced they were suing, Taser International asserted that they would argue he died from excited delirium.^[10]

Robert Dziekański: died at the Vancouver International Airport on October 14, 2007 after he was tasered by police. The RCMP and Taser International [2] have ventured that the man died from "excited delirium". It was reported that the distressed individual was acting in an erratic yet non-violent manner before four RCMP officers shocked him with a taser at least twice. After being pinned to the floor by the police he quickly became unresponsive and paramedics were unable to revive him when they arrived fifteen minutes after the incident. The officers did not attempt to perform CPR despite knowing he had no pulse. (see: link to followup article reported by CKNW, link to video)

References

• The Globe & Mail, November 30, 2007. Taser firms picked up coroner's lecture tab
• The Globe & Mail, November 30, 2007. Symposium aims to define 'excited delirium'
• Standford Law School Securities Class Action Clearinghouse in Cooperation with Cornerstone Research. Filings with S.E.C. & class actions for allegedly failing to disclose and misrepresention on safety.Retrieved 3/12/2007

See also

• Electroshock weapon controversy
• Sluggishly progressing schizophrenia