ABSTRACT
The use and implementation of physical restraint to control violent, uncooperative, or combative individuals is a common and expected intervention for law enforcement, as well as the pre-hospital and hospital setting. This has become an increasingly salient topic given current media discussion and coverage of events that highlight the use of force by law enforcement to restrain individuals. The process of asphyxiation is the ultimate death of the individual and the associated failure of organ systems secondary to a lack of oxygen supply and delivery to the organs. This oxygen delivery to the body relies upon many factors. The most crucial factor is that oxygen can get into the blood to be transported to the tissues. The theory of positional asphyxia was invoked by the plaintiffs in Price v. County of San Diego. As part of the investigation to assess for restraint asphyxia, the investigator needs to assess possible etiologies for the death, including the findings of Excited Delirium Syndrome.
