Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to G A Norfolk.
The case of a 50-year old female body-stuffer who collapsed and died more than 10h after swallowing a plastic wrap of cocaine is reported. The case is discussed together with a review of the literature in order that guidelines on managing body-stuffers in police custody can be evidence based.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
This paper presents the results of a retrospective analysis of deaths in police custody from 1 January to 31 December 1994. During that year, there were 32 such deaths in the UK. For purposes of analysis, the deaths were grouped into three principal categories based on the frequency of their occurrence: deaths by hanging (12); deaths among those arrested for drunkenness (11) and other deaths (9). By considering the results of this study together with a comprehensive literature review, several strategies for reducing the frequency of deaths in police custody are proposed.
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Two cases are presented which highlight the potential for abused volatile substances to interfere with the results of evidential breath testing equipment. Home Office guidance, issued in 1983, advises that breath testing devices should not be used when a driver is suspected of glue-sniffling, but the advice does not appear to be widely known. The implications for both police officers and police surgeons are discussed. New evidential breath testing devices, which are planned to be introduced into the UK in the first half of 1997, are designed to recognize interfering substances such as solvents. The potential problems these new devices may pose are considered.
Police surgeons are frequently asked by the police to assess whether suspects held in police custody are fit to be interviewed. The lack of any clear medical and legal criteria by which fitness for interview can be assessed has left many doctors confused about what exactly the term means. This paper draws attention to the importance of the topic and suggests a working definition of 'fitness to be interviewed.' A scheme of examination is proposed which should enable the police surgeon to make a meaningful assessment of a suspect's fitness for interview.
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Police surgeons are frequently asked by the police to assess whether suspects held in police custody are fit to be interviewed. However, there are no established medical criteria for making these assessments and very little has been published on how police surgeons actually approach the question of assessing a suspect's fitness for interview.
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