Coronial
WApolice custody_and_home

Inquest into the Death of Desmond Richard KICKETT

Deceased

Desmond Richard KICKETT

Demographics

34y, male

Coroner

Coroner Jenkin

Date of death

2018-06-29

Cause of death

multiple organ failure following cardiorespiratory arrest in a man with focal coronary arteriosclerosis and amphetamine effect

AI-generated summary

A 34-year-old man died from cardiorespiratory arrest with multiple organ failure after methylamphetamine use combined with underlying focal coronary arteriosclerosis. He became unresponsive in police custody while being transported for mental health assessment. Police officers appropriately used minimal restraint, placed him in recovery position, monitored him regularly, and initiated CPR when his condition deteriorated. The coroner found no police culpability. Clinical lessons include: recognise that illicit drug use with pre-existing cardiac disease is life-threatening; cardiac arrests can occur suddenly in drug-affected persons despite appearing stable; early CPR by available responders significantly improves outcomes; and safe restraint positions minimise respiratory complications.

AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.

Specialties

emergency medicinecardiologyforensic medicineparamedicine

Drugs involved

methamphetamine

Clinical conditions

cardiorespiratory arrestcardiac arrhythmiacoronary arteriosclerosismethylamphetamine toxicitymulti-organ failurehypoxic brain injurydisseminated intravascular coagulationmetabolic acidosisbronchopneumonia

Procedures

cardiopulmonary resuscitationintubationdefibrillationadrenaline administrationnaloxone administrationLUCAS machine application

Contributing factors

  • methylamphetamine use
  • focal coronary arteriosclerosis (50% narrowing of circumflex coronary artery)
  • prior physical exertion (breaking into home, climbing fence, smashing door)
  • underlying cardiac arrhythmia precipitated by methylamphetamine effect on heart muscle

Coroner's recommendations

  1. The Police should take all necessary steps to ensure that all passenger pods attached to police vehicles are fitted with cameras capable of recording CCTV footage and that footage should be recorded whenever a person is placed into the passenger pod.
  2. The Police should take all necessary steps to ensure that all passenger pods attached to police vehicles are fitted with lighting that switches on as soon as a person is placed into the pod, and stays on. The lighting should be designed so as not to drain the police vehicle's battery, so that the light can remain on even when the vehicle is stationary, in the event that there is any delay at the scene.
  3. POC operators should receive periodic refresher training to update them on skills required to effectively deal with traumatised callers in emergency situations.
Full text
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Source and disclaimer

This page reproduces or summarises information from publicly available findings published by Australian coroners' courts. Coronial is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any coronial court or government body.

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