Media Coverage
Authorities claimed these Black men had excited delirium just before they died. But the diagnosis itself is a problem and should be abandoned, a new study says - CNN
This article cites various cases in which Excited Delirium syndrome was listed as a cause of death involving police, referencing a recent study which described Excited Delirium syndrome as a meaningless diagnosis. It emphasizes the lack of understanding of this "syndrome" both in the medical field and law enforcement, exploring how this lack of understanding has translated to deaths of Black and Brown people at the hands of police. The article also discusses the background of the doctor who coined Excited Delirium syndrome, Charles Wetli. Wetli was a medical examiner and self-proclaimed cult expert of Afro-Caribbean religions. His reasoning for this syndrome is clearly rooted in eugenics and racist pseudoscience. He even claimed that it "might be the genetic makeup of Black people that predisposes them to dying" when on drugs.​
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https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/12/us/excited-delirium-police-deaths-study/index.html
Dozens of deaths reveal risks of injecting sedatives into people restrained by police - Associated Press
This article discusses many cases in which people were killed in situations involving the police and had Excited Delirium cited as a cause of death. The article goes in depth with each situation, highlighting the maltreatment of each individual, the of role first responders' understanding of the syndrome, and the consequences of this (mis)understanding. It also highlights the role of injections of sedatives as well as tasers, which are claimed to be the real cause of many deaths cited as Excited Delirium.​
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‘Excited delirium’ emerges as key issue in trial of officers accused over George Floyd death - The Guardian
This article looks at how law enforcement officers are trained to deal with Excited Delirium syndrome. It also discusses the historical development of Excited Delirium syndrome, and highlights the role of drugs in the fear-mongering surrounding the syndrome. The article also contrasts police officers' understanding of Excited Delirium syndrome with the medical understanding of the syndrome, highlighting the dissonance between the two.
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https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/14/george-floyd-death-civil-trial-officers-minneapolis
Doctors abandon "excited delirium" diagnosis used to justify police custody deaths. It might live on, anyway. - CBS
This article discusses doctors rejecting Excited Delirium as a legitimate diagnosis and cause of death.The article highlights that while many medical organizations, groups, and experts have rejected the legitimacy of this "syndrome," police still use it as a cause of death in many cases.
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https://www.cbsnews.com/news/excited-delirium-doctors-abandon-diagnosis-police-custody-deaths/
EXPLAINER: ‘Excited delirium’ and George Floyd - Associated Press
This article discusses Excited Delirium syndrome and its use in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the police officer convicted of killing George Floyd. Excited Delirium was named as an early cause of death for George Floyd, which was once again cited as a possible reason for his death during the trial of Chauvin, who was ultimately convicted for the murder of Floyd. This article also discusses current medical understanding and legal opinions on Excited Delirium syndrome, as confidence in the legitimacy of the syndrome continues to decrease as its use becomes more public.
Examining The Emergency Medical Playbook For Treating Excited Delirium - PBS
This article examines how Excited Delirium syndrome is supposed to be treated in the field. The article discusses the role of first responders and how they are trained to deal with Excited Delirium in the state of Wisconsin. It examines various understandings of the syndrome, both by police, first responders, and local hospitals. It also includes training materials such as flow charts designed for dealing with people who supposedly are experiencing "Excited Delirium syndrome."