Hospital referral of detainees during police custody in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Autor: Dorn T; Department of Epidemiology & Health Promotion, Public Health Service Amsterdam, P.O. Box 2200, 1000 CE Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: tdorn@ggd.amsterdam.nl., Janssen A; Department of Epidemiology & Health Promotion, Public Health Service Amsterdam, P.O. Box 2200, 1000 CE Amsterdam, The Netherlands., de Keijzer JC; Department of Forensic Medicine, Public Health Service, Amsterdam, The Netherlands., van Rijk-Zwikker GL; Department of Forensic Medicine, Public Health Service, Amsterdam, The Netherlands., Reijnders UJL; Department of Forensic Medicine, Public Health Service, Amsterdam, The Netherlands., Luitse JSK; Department of Emergency Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands., Vandewalle E; Department of Emergency Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands., Gorzeman MP; Department of Emergency Medicine, OLVG Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands., van Nieuwenhuizen RC; Department of Emergency Medicine, OLVG Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands., Ceelen M; Department of Epidemiology & Health Promotion, Public Health Service Amsterdam, P.O. Box 2200, 1000 CE Amsterdam, The Netherlands., Das C; Department of Forensic Medicine, Public Health Service, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of forensic and legal medicine [J Forensic Leg Med] 2018 Jul; Vol. 57, pp. 82-85. Date of Electronic Publication: 2016 Jan 30.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2016.01.025
Abstrakt: This study describes how many detainees have been referred to emergency departments for further evaluation or emergency care while in police custody in Amsterdam (years 2012/2013). It provides insights into the diagnoses assigned by forensic doctors and hospital specialists and the appropriateness of the referrals. We made use of the electronic registration system of the Forensic Medicine Department of the Public Health Service Amsterdam. This department is in charge of the medical care for detainees in the Amsterdam region. Hospital diagnoses were obtained through collaboration with several Amsterdam-based hospitals. According to our results, in 1.5% of all consultations performed, the detainee was referred to hospital. The most frequent reasons for referral were injuries (66%), intoxication/withdrawal (11%) and cardiac problems (7%). In 18% of all referrals, hospital admission (defined as at least one night in the hospital) was the consequence. After review of hospital files, the indication for referral as stated by the forensic physician was confirmed in 77% of all cases. A minority of referrals was considered unnecessary (7%). The identified cases allow for a discussion of cases of over-referral. Future research should focus on the problem of under-referral and associated health risks.
(Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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