Physicians for Human Rights

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California taking a lead role in movement to reject 'excited delirium' from testimony, legal proceedings in police force cases

By Michael Carroll | Thursday, Jun 13, 2024 @ 10:20pm

Civil rights attorneys applauded California’s decision to ban the diagnosis of “excited delirium” – often defined as a drug-induced behavioral state characterized by agitation, aggression and elevated strength – from official proceedings in lawsuits accusing police of excessive force. Police say the change makes officers less safe.