Nomen Nescio <Use-Author-Supplied-Address-Header@[127.1]> wrote:
: X-MessageID: <pb1031rbn10573@dizum2.dizum.com>

: I know somewhone who appears to be an alcoholic, in his
: early 40's.

: In the past couple months he has been arrested 3 times,
: once for DWI, twice for public intoxication.

: In the jail cell after the DWI arrest he took the
: breath test it was 0.30 BAC but he appeared resaonably
: sober on the video tape.

: He was jailed for about 48 hours and had a seizure
: and went through DT's, then was shuffled to a charity
: hospital, he was given 6mg of Ativan. Then kept in
: the hospital for 4 days.

: He has started drinking very heavily again.

: His father trying to help out talked to a doctor and
: the doctor recommended he seek an internist and
: ask for Lexapro.

: I think he would need benzos to get off the sauce

: What is your opinion?

I might also want to ask for a legal opinion. If a
person is held in jail, in the jail infirmirary,
they are undergoing signs and symptoms of acute
alcohol withdrawal, the jailhouse has medication
but will not medicate the patient could they be
sued for medical malpractice? I say they could
because putting people through life-threating
withdrawals when they have been simply accused
but ***NOT** convicted of a crime, this is an
abuse. The patient (or accusee) can have his
day in court, and if the court decides on a
punishment, they can adminiser it under the
appropriate state statutes.