As Foundation for ‘Excited Delirium’ Diagnosis Cracks, Fallout Spreads

I was happy to talk with KFF Health News on the important new developments debunking the faulty science of the “excited delirium” diagnosis. This diagnosis, which is not based in objective, credible science has been used as a finding for cause of death in numerous police killings of civilians, especially Black men. It had been supported previously by some medical associations, and used by medical examiners and coroners as a cause of death. It was taught to and incorporated in police agency policies across the country. It has been invoked by union reps and defense attorneys as a way to absolve officers in agency and criminal investigations. The problem is that there is no science grounding it.

Finally, now all major U.S. medical associations have rejected the diagnosis. Private training agencies like Lexipol have also followed suit and are beginning to remove it from training and policy. California has enacted legislation prohibiting its use and other states look to follow suit. There is more to be done to ensure this bogus diagnosis is removed as a cause of death and from law enforcement training and policy.

Article is available here.