Psychoactive substances may be given to a potential victim to alter their behaviour or conscious state. This problem is not new; alcohol has been used alone or in combination with other substances to the same effect. Doctors involved in the examination of complainants of sexual assault need to be aware of the effects of the drugs that may be used and ensure that a detailed history, examination and the appropriate specimens are taken. This report describes a series of incidents involving drug-mediated sexual assault and outlines the dilemmas that accompany such incidents.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1999

The management of opiate addicts in police custody.

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Humans↗

PubMed1998

"Safety" of chemical batons.

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Delivery of Health Care↗

PubMed1998

Medical complications associated with the use of rigid handcuffs: a pilot study.

The provision of Police Officers with an updated form of rigid handcuffs in 1992 resulted in adverse publicity with regard to the purported 'serious injuries' that these new handcuffs produced and there was a suggestion that they 'may have to be withdrawn'. However, the police appeared to appreciate the ease of application and control of the detained person that these rigid handcuffs afforded. This pilot study documents injuries to the wrist and other sites on 41 detained persons who had been placed in rigid handcuffs in one Metropolitan Police station during a 7-month period. Nearly all of the wrist injuries that were detected were minor and required no specific treatment. Nonetheless, there is a need for further research comparing the medical complications of rigid handcuffs and other handcuffs currently in use.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1998

Think drink, think drugs, think overdoses.

The police are frequently called upon to deal with people whose behaviour is disturbing the peace of other citizens. A large proportion of such people will have consumed alcohol, some will have consumed drugs and others will be suffering from mental illness. The role of the FME is to determine whether medical or psychiatric intervention is necessary for that individual. Because of the difficulty in assessing a person's mental state when they are believed to be under the influence of substances, it is commonplace for the person to be reassessed some hours after the initial assessment to enable the effect of any consumed substances to abate. However, if the toxic effects of consumed medication are not appreciated, such a delay in receiving medical care may have serious consequences. We report this case as a reminder to all forensic physicians of the clinical effects and possible grave complications associated with amitriptyline overdose. Doctors who work in custodial medicine should be alert to the possibility of an overdose of a drug with anti-muscarinic effects when confronted with a detained person who is acutely confused with clinical features suggestive of stimulant use.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1998