Health-care workers, not police, should care for intoxicated people: IIO | 24CA News
Intoxicated individuals are dying in jail cells in what the British Columbia police watchdog says is an “outdated practice” of holding them for their very own safety when they need to be getting well being care.
A report launched by Ronald J. MacDonald, the chief civilian director of the Independent Investigations Office, says detaining these folks in jail provides no assure of security or well being.
His report launched Monday says cops shouldn’t be liable for caring for intoxicated folks.
“Too many people die in police custody, often through no fault of the police. The care of intoxicated persons should not be a police responsibility,” MacDonald’s report concludes.
“It is a health care issue. It is time for government to take steps to facilitate the changes necessary to ensure intoxicated persons who need care receive it from trained health care professionals.”
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MacDonald says there are alternatives, apart from jails, which might be already getting used somewhere else within the province, comparable to sobering centres or having well being professionals on web site to assist.
“Officers and jail guards are not trained medical personnel, and jail cells are not the best place for such prisoners,” the report says.
“Holding intoxicated persons in police cells, ostensibly for their own protection, guarded by people who are not trained health professionals, is an outdated practice, and proven not to provide adequate guarantees of their safety and health.”
Outside the legislature Monday, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth mentioned he had simply develop into conscious of the report and can evaluation it earlier than making any remark.
MacDonald was unavailable for additional touch upon his report on Monday.
The report got here after a person in Williams Lake, B.C., who was considered affected by alcohol or drug withdrawal, had a “life-threatening health crisis” in RCMP cells final 12 months.
The unidentified man was arrested on Nov. 13, started vomiting about 24 hours later, then was discovered struggling to breathe and was rushed to hospital.
The report says the RCMP’s name for assist was truly “optimal” for the person as a result of his signs had been critical sufficient that he was hospitalized, however any later would have elevated his threat of demise.
MacDonald says the officers didn’t commit any offences in the way in which they handled the person however he has considerations about how intoxicated prisoners are housed within the province.
Jennifer Metcalfe, govt director of Prisoners’ Legal Services with the West Coast Prison Justice Society, mentioned she helps MacDonald’s name for change and thinks it ought to embody higher medical assist for folks going by withdrawal after arriving in jail.
“I think it’s important that people who are intoxicated or in withdrawal are treated appropriately by health-care professionals with compassion,” she mentioned, including that’s not prone to occur if somebody is held in a cell.
The Independent Investigations Office is a civilian oversight company that investigates all officer-related circumstances the place there was critical hurt or demise.
© 2023 The Canadian Press
