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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this website contains the names and images of people who have passed
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An unconscious person requires immediate medical attention
That a person found to be unconscious or not easily rousable while in a watch-house or cell must be immediately conveyed to a hospital, medical practitioner or a nurse. (Where quicker medical aid can be summoned to the watch-house or cell or there are reasons for believing that movement may be dangerous for the health of the detainee, such medical attendance should be sought).
Priority for Further Work:
High
Relevance and potential impact | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Low (0-2) | Moderate (3-4) | High (5-6) | |||
Extent of action taken and evidence of outcomes | High (5-6) | ||||
Moderate (3-4) | |||||
Low (0-2) | |||||
Background
The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC) recognised the danger associated with the detention of persons who were unconscious and urged that ‘unconscious or partially rousable persons receive immediate medical attention.’
The RCIADIC noted that unconsciousness could be caused by various serious and life-threatening medical conditions, including, acute alcohol intoxication, epilepsy, diabetes, drug overdose and head injuries. Experts indicated that it was possible to train police to distinguish between the varying levels of consciousness. Ultimately, the RCIADIC emphasised the need for guidelines to be developed around the identification and care of detainees displaying an impaired state of consciousness.
The Commission referred to General Order 5750 which applied to the South Australian Police Force, requiring officers to obtain medical assistance when a person has an ‘impaired state of consciousness from whatever cause’. The Order defined an impaired state of consciousness as:
When a person is incapable of rational conversation, is persistently or intermittently drowsy/sleepy, does not respond to verbal commands and body stimulation, and is unable to walk or stand unassisted.
Therefore, officers that found a person in this state were to not leave them unattended and were to seek medical assistance immediately. Further, anyone found ‘unresponsive, immobile or unconscious: is to be placed in a supervised coma position and an ambulance must be called’. Importantly, General Order 5750 concludes that ‘the health of a person in custody is paramount and no police investigation will take precedence over it’.