>Critics say forced sedation should be strictly limited or banned, arguing the medications, given without consent, are too risky to be administered during police encounters.
I've been a volunteer EMT for 20 years and in that time I've been punched, cut, choked, and bit on multiple occasions-- and I'm in one of the most affluent counties in the US. People in poorer areas have it 10x worse than I do.
I'm a very tall, very strong, fully grown adult man. Most of the paramedics I work with are very small, not particularly strong, women. Practically everyone I work with is young.
If forced sedation is banned the critical nationwide shortage of EMS personnel will become much worse than it already is.
Have you ever had a 30-year-old man who's lying on the ground bleeding behind a vape shop at 3am try to repeatedly bite you every time you come within biting distance?
It's either: I hold him down and the medic gives him 5mg of midazolam or he's the cop's problem.
I've been a volunteer EMT for 20 years and in that time I've been punched, cut, choked, and bit on multiple occasions-- and I'm in one of the most affluent counties in the US. People in poorer areas have it 10x worse than I do.
I'm a very tall, very strong, fully grown adult man. Most of the paramedics I work with are very small, not particularly strong, women. Practically everyone I work with is young.
If forced sedation is banned the critical nationwide shortage of EMS personnel will become much worse than it already is.
Have you ever had a 30-year-old man who's lying on the ground bleeding behind a vape shop at 3am try to repeatedly bite you every time you come within biting distance?
It's either: I hold him down and the medic gives him 5mg of midazolam or he's the cop's problem.