Colorado’s law enforcement officers will no longer recognize “excited delirium” after a state regulatory board voted to strike the controversial diagnosis on Friday from all training documents starting in January.

The move, which was passed at the state Peace Officers Standards and Training board meeting unanimously and without debate, comes as two Aurora paramedics face felony charges for giving Elijah McClain, an unarmed, innocent Black man, an overdose of ketamine, in part, because they believed he was suffering from the condition.

  • killeronthecorner@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    Fuck what the Pieces Of Shit Training Board says, why the fuck were paramedics giving someone ketamine?

    There was another systemic failure here and this feels like smoke and mirrors.

    • Stamau123@lemmy.worldOP
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      10 months ago

      Ketamine does have valid medical uses, namely pain killing and sedation, it’s that in cases such as these it’s completely unnecessary

      • killeronthecorner@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        That’s my point. There are literally dozens of drugs that would have been more appropriate than ketamine in this situation.

        • meyotch@slrpnk.net
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          10 months ago

          Ketamine is widely considered one of the safest drugs, so safe that only cops could find a way to overdose someone on it.

          • killeronthecorner@lemmy.world
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            10 months ago

            I didn’t say it wasn’t safe…

            You’re confusing the chemical science of things like LD50s of substances, with recommended medical practice by medical bodies such as which specific medicines are appropriate in which medical situations.

            Again: there are dozens of medicines that would have been more appropriate than ketamine in this situation.

            • Rediphile@lemmy.ca
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              10 months ago

              Why would those other medications be more appropriate. What’s the problem with Ketamine in the first place?

              • killeronthecorner@lemmy.world
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                10 months ago

                This is a question best answered by an actual doctor or pharmacist. My line of reasoning is about established medical procedure, not the pharmacology or psychopharmacology of each possible medicine or substance that could be used in this situation.

        • Chetzemoka@startrek.website
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          10 months ago

          Ketamine doesn’t carry the risk of respiratory depression and hypotension that other sedatives and pain killers do. No risk that you might have to immediately intubate someone.