Deaths and medical attention in police custody

This article presents data from a study on the medical and monitoring procedures surrounding all 59 deaths in Dutch police stations in the period 1983-1993. In many cases, the medical procedures and monitoring procedures were not in accordance with the Dutch ministerial guidelines. Notification of physicians, transference to hospitals, medical examinations, and monitoring procedures showed several shortcomings. Based on the findings, several measures for the prevention of deaths in police custody are discussed.