Paramedics’ Use of Sedatives During Police Restraints Linked to Deaths in the Bay Area

A recent investigation conducted by the Associated Press (AP), in collaboration with PBS Frontline and the Howard Centers for Investigative Journalism, has shed new light on the use of sedatives by paramedics during police restraints, which has resulted in the deaths of several individuals in the Bay Area. The investigation has identified 94 cases across the United States where a person died in police custody after being administered a sedative by medics. Of these cases, 16 occurred in California, with nearly half of them taking place in the Bay Area.

One such case involved Ivan Gutzalenko, who tragically lost his life in March 2021. Gutzalenko was stopped by Richmond police officers for allegedly being intoxicated and bleeding from his hand. During the encounter, Gutzalenko struggled to breathe as the officers restrained him. Despite his pleas that they were hurting him, the officers continued to restrain him, and a paramedic viewed his actions as aggression. The paramedic then administered a 5-milligram dose of midazolam, a sedative, to Gutzalenko. Within minutes, Gutzalenko became motionless, and his heart stopped. He was later declared dead at a hospital.

The AP’s investigation has revealed that similar incidents have occurred in the Bay Area, resulting in the deaths of other individuals, including Elijah McClain, Jonathan Mitchell, and Toney. In each case, medics working for private companies, primarily American Medical Response, administered midazolam to the restrained individuals. The deaths were attributed to causes other than the sedative, and some were officially attributed to “excited delirium,” a controversial diagnosis that has been widely abandoned by medical professionals.

The role that sedatives played in these deaths remains difficult to determine. Medical experts have stated that the impact of these drugs can vary, ranging from negligible effects to being the main cause of death when administered in the wrong circumstances or mishandled. However, the use of sedatives on restrained individuals has raised concerns, particularly when combined with pressure on the backs and necks of detainees, as seen in these cases.

While scrutiny of in-custody deaths has traditionally focused on the police’s role, attention has now turned to paramedics following the criminal charges filed against two medics involved in Elijah McClain’s death in Colorado. The AP’s investigation highlights the need for further examination of the use of sedatives during police restraints and the potential risks associated with this practice.

It is important to note that no medics or police officers have faced criminal charges in the Bay Area cases. However, the use of midazolam on restrained individuals has raised concerns among medical professionals, with physicians in Australia warning against such applications after two deaths occurred in custody.

The tragic death of Ivan Gutzalenko has left his family devastated, and his wife, a former critical care nurse, has expressed disbelief at the administration of midazolam to someone already in respiratory distress. The circumstances surrounding Gutzalenko’s death, along with the other cases highlighted in the investigation, underscore the need for a thorough examination of the protocols and practices surrounding the use of sedatives during police restraints.