Police Cells And No Insulin.

Remind me never to get arrested! that was atrocious 'duty of care' - the offending officers should have the book thrown at them. I do hope you are following this up through the proper channels - not just for you but for the next T1D who might not have survived the night like that.

 

It makes me wonder what they do if someone is on a pump? They remove things to avoid suicide, but given how short acting insulin works in a pump, it would end up being a mess.

 

Hopefully if someone's on a pump they'd be able to conceal it? I'd also think that removing it without medical supervision might constitute some kind of assault - am happy to be corrected on that. @dmcx3x do let us know how you get on, this is truly truly shocking. Regardless of why anyone is in police custody, witholding insulin runs counter to the codes of all the organisations concerned eg the police, the BMA, the Home Office. It's the duty of the custody officer to ensure that conditions such as diabetes are established and to allow access to medication including insulin. I'd have been beside myself in this situation

 

From experience. They think about hypo's by offering a carby food and log the offer. Whether accepted or refused.
However any more isn't offered unless you go unconscious. (eg an ambulance on a Saturday night in the uk).

Yes I agree it all needs reform. But won't be till LESSONS ARE LEARNT.
Thank god you weren't the lesson they needed.

Ignorance while in their duty of care. Some bosses are the same.
I pity any type1s working for the police that night. Look how they would be treated too?
Well any type of diabetic.
As a type2 a ready meal lasanya without insulin just flips the coin from hypo to hyper.
Not all type2s produce their own insulin or sufficient.
I too don't carry insulin on a night out as I don't drink and go out after teatime. I might take my meter thou. (in my bag which I presume gets confiscated).

Ive heard these stories before so I now wear a insulin dependant wristband. PINK.

 

That’s a real worry, especially as you don’t have any long acting insulin in your system - a few hours without your pump could kill you. I don’t know about a tubed pump, but I don’t think they’d be able to remove something like an Omnipod without a doctor being present, as they’d be leaving an open wound, albeit a very small one. How do they treat people with things like colostomy bags?

 

Let's not get carried away here and assume that one alleged incident is normal police procedure.

 

Who should the complaint be addressed? I had a worse experience with the police but my complaint to IPCC was ignored.

 

Hi,

Just to put stuff in perspective. (& recount my own experience.)

I've been arrested twice' Call it "misadventure & youthful exuberance." Both times respectively.
Oddly i wasn't even restrained. Found both experiences rather civilised.
The first time i was detained at the station & breathalysed. Released without charge after 4 hours. Well under the limit, the patrol thought i was trying to steal my own car. (Didn't do that again. )

The second time. i was "banged up" for 6 hours before interview. then released without charge. (Bit of a scuffle with a local known thug.)
Whilst i was in the cell the officer in charge couldn't do enough for me.. Pretty much checking up & asking if i need anything every 30 minutes..

@dmcx3x , with the experience you had. A complaint should formally be made.

Wishing you all the best!

J>

 

surely this is breaking the equality act and discrimination on the grounds of disability as well as neglect and hence assault?

 

What's it have to do with equality?

 

I would like to know that as well.

Queensland police are equal opportunity when it comes to getting sprayed in the face with capsicum spray, or getting tasered if you bad mouth them. Not sure about South Australia police as I have never been there.

Edit: Clarity.

 

Did you cc your MP?

 

That's how any bully makes you feel like. Not saying you felt bullied as only you know that.

 

What you fail to realise is that Police Officers are not allowed to administer or permit drugs to be taken by someone in their custody. The correct procedure is to call out the on call Doctor. If in the event of a long delay in that Doctor attending and the detained person is showing signs of obvious distress, then an ambulance should be called and the detained person taken to hospital accompanied by a police officer for treatment. You would not believe the number of detained persons who try to pull the wool over the eye of detention officers about the need for drugs or medication. Not saying this in your case but the police have to follow procedure. Can you imagine the outcry if they had handed over your insulin and you had taken a massive overdose. Who do you think would get the blame ? Not you, it would have been the custody officer.

 

I don't think that's a helpful answer. Yes, that may be the correct procedure - but in this case that procedure was not followed, and not following it is a really bad idea for T1D people.

 

Good afternoon dmcx3x. If you have written to al those people that I an others have mentioned and there is no reply - the next stage is the Press. Write a letter to ALL the National Newspapers - and if your MP has not replied - write to your LOCAL newspaper suggesting that your MP is "not doing his job" - SO WHY ARE WE VOTING FOR HIM.

It could well be that ALL of the people you are writing to will plead that "this is the holiday season" - but you NEED TO ACT whilst this thing is still hot. Try also to write to LOCAL RADIO and also WATCHDOG on TV.

Someone somewhere might agree eventually to interview you - BUT KEEP TRYING.