Examiner dfends "excited delirium" diagnosis in taser death
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sat October 6, 2007
Area: Atlanta
Gwinnett's medical examiner said she stands by her diagnosis in the death of a Norcross man who was tasered, even though she cited a condition that's not universally accepted.
This week Dr. Carol Terry ruled that the death of Elier Carlos Rodriguez Escamilla was accidental and caused by a syndrome called excited delirium.
The July 26 death of the 27-year-old Norcross man came after a scuffle with deputies who were trying to arrest him.
During the scuffle, Rodriguez Escamilla was shocked with a Taser at least one time.
Terry said the man died from a combination of cocaine, alcohol and physical exertion brought on during the scuffle with deputies.
All these things were too much for Rodriguez Escamilla's heart, and he died from excited delirium, Terry said.
"I know that the term is not universally accepted, but that does not bother me," Terry said in a recent interview. "It is accepted in the medical examiner community."
A laymen's definition for the condition is an "overdose of adrenaline," Terry said.
The term excited delirium has been cited by medical examiners in police-related custody deaths across the country recently.
Some civil liberty groups and medical officials say the condition does not exist or is overused to mask police brutality.
Representatives of the American Psychological Association have said they do not recognize the term.
In a recent interview Terry cited a book on excited delirium published in 2005, written by a former medical examiner from Texas.
Terry also cited an article in a medical journal.
"I have cited excited delirium in cases where police officers are not involved," said Terry.
"But, unfortunately, in a lot of cases officers have had to get involved. Because of drugs or other issues these people are in an agitated state, and they are like time bombs ready to go off."
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