The AMA took a position against excited delirium last year which was good since police appologists would point to a 2009 statement on tasers as an indication of AMA acknowledging the existence of excited delirium. It says:
"Confirms the AMA’s stance that current evidence does not support “excited delirium” as an official diagnosis, and opposes its use until a clear set of diagnostic criteria has been established
Denounces “excited delirium” as a sole justification for law enforcement use of excessive force
Underscores the importance of emergency physician-led oversight of medical emergencies in the field
Opposes the use of sedative/hypnotic and dissociative drugs—including ketamine—as an intervention for an agitated individual in a law enforcement setting, without a legitimate medical reason
Recognizes the risk that sedative/hypnotic and dissociative drugs have in relation to an individual’s age, underlying medical conditions, and potential drug interactions when used outside of a hospital setting by a non-physician "
Oakland and Antioch CA both now have very strong policy language protecting residents from positional asphyxia during police custody. It hasn't been reported on but other jurisdictions should be encouraged to follow suit.
Interesting subject. I looked at one 1998 CMAJ paper that reviewed these deaths:
Results: In all 21 cases of unexpected death associated with excited delirium, the deaths were associated with restraint (for violent agitation and hyperactivity), with the person either in a prone position (18 people [86%]) or subjected to pressure on the neck (3 [14%]).
I have also seen a systematic review that suggested it is a real thing and I haven’t studied this in depth but I think you are right to express scepticism. The conclusion above rather leads me towards an Occam’s razor approach… Rather than some mystery and hard to define ‘delirium’ it seems far more likely people were simply asphyxiated. And one rather fears the system has colluded in hiding that fact.
The AMA took a position against excited delirium last year which was good since police appologists would point to a 2009 statement on tasers as an indication of AMA acknowledging the existence of excited delirium. It says:
"Confirms the AMA’s stance that current evidence does not support “excited delirium” as an official diagnosis, and opposes its use until a clear set of diagnostic criteria has been established
Denounces “excited delirium” as a sole justification for law enforcement use of excessive force
Underscores the importance of emergency physician-led oversight of medical emergencies in the field
Opposes the use of sedative/hypnotic and dissociative drugs—including ketamine—as an intervention for an agitated individual in a law enforcement setting, without a legitimate medical reason
Recognizes the risk that sedative/hypnotic and dissociative drugs have in relation to an individual’s age, underlying medical conditions, and potential drug interactions when used outside of a hospital setting by a non-physician "
Oakland and Antioch CA both now have very strong policy language protecting residents from positional asphyxia during police custody. It hasn't been reported on but other jurisdictions should be encouraged to follow suit.
Interesting subject. I looked at one 1998 CMAJ paper that reviewed these deaths:
Results: In all 21 cases of unexpected death associated with excited delirium, the deaths were associated with restraint (for violent agitation and hyperactivity), with the person either in a prone position (18 people [86%]) or subjected to pressure on the neck (3 [14%]).
That was from this paper: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9645173/
I have also seen a systematic review that suggested it is a real thing and I haven’t studied this in depth but I think you are right to express scepticism. The conclusion above rather leads me towards an Occam’s razor approach… Rather than some mystery and hard to define ‘delirium’ it seems far more likely people were simply asphyxiated. And one rather fears the system has colluded in hiding that fact.