Pubdate: Fri, 20 Nov 2009
Source: Chilliwack Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Chilliwack Times
Contact:  http://www.chilliwacktimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1357
Author: Suzanne Fournier

INQUEST REVEALS SHOCKING DETAILS

 From the number of times he was Tasered to the the way he was handled
by paramedics, Robert Knipstrom's arrest and death grips the province

Robert Knipstrom's principle cause of death was "acute MDMA
intoxication" due to a moderate level in his blood of the popular rave
drug ecstasy, an inquest heard Wednesday.

But the coroner's inquest is also examining to what degree his
face-down restraint--contrary to B.C. Ambulance Service policy--may
have compromised his breathing and caused cardiac arrest.

Paramedic Rick Simon told the inquest Wednesday that when he answered
a call to the EZE Rent-it Centre in Chilliwack on Nov. 19, 2007, a
blood-covered and howling Knipstrom was fighting with police, who had
Tasered him at least six times and used pepper spray.

Simon testified Knipstrom was having trouble breathing.

Simon admitted to coroner's counsel Rodrick MacKenzie that it is B.C.
Ambulance Service policy to avoid placing a restrained patient
face-down and to warn police that the position can cause difficulty
breathing and even death.

But Knipstrom remained face-down until he stopped breathing in
hospital. Paramedic Andrea Seymour testified she tried to put
Knipstrom on his side but he resisted.

"There's no give to that policy [against face-down restraint], is
there?" demanded MacKenzie of Seymour.

Seymour agreed, but pointed out further policies have been developed
since then for "agitated patients" that warn they are "at risk of
irreversible cardiopulmonary arrest," and should be taken to hospital
as soon as possible.

"Sudden deaths . . . usually occur in patients restrained face-down,"
the new policy notes, adding that if the patient is face-down he must
be monitored and should be moved face-up as soon as possible.

Knipstrom arrived by ambulance at Chilliwack General Hospital (CGH) at
4:01 p.m. and was not seen by medical staff until two RCMP officers
and paramedics noticed his face turning blue at 4:28 p.m.

A medical team, including Simon and Seymour, worked on him and he
regained a heartbeat at 4:55 p.m.

He was later transported to Surrey Memorial Hospital when his kidneys
began to fail and died there on Nov. 24, 2007.

Toxicologist Dr. Walter Martz testified Wednesday that Knipstrom had
about seven milligrams of ecstasy per litre of blood in his system.
Martz noted that moderate levels of ecstasy can be harmless to one
person, but fatal to another.

Martz also cited new research that pepper spray may contribute to the
death of agitated people high on drugs.

CGH triage nurse Susanne Banta said the emergency ward was swamped
that day with three "Code Blue" cardiac arrests, a multiple-vehicle
collision and an injured hemophiliac baby.

Forensic pathologist Dr. Danny Straathof said Knipstrom's cause of
death was "acute intoxication" with ecstasy, but he noted Knipstrom
had been "physically agitated," then restrained and handcuffed before
a "cardiac arrest," which led to "severe damage to the brain due to a
lack of oxygen."

He died ultimately from "multiple-organ failure." Straathof noted
there is "considerable controversy" surrounding the role of face-down
restraint in sudden death.

While handcuffed face-down in a hospital emergency room for 27
minutes, Knipstrom called out clearly, twice, before he stopped breathing.

"I love my family, I love my family," he said.

RCMP Const. Pamela Skelton, who on Nov. 19, 2007, met the ambulance
carrying Knipstrom, another RCMP officer and paramedics at Chilliwack
General Hospital, said attendants put them in a "quiet room" because
Knipstrom "was making too much noise" in the busy emergency ward.

Skelton and Const. Cynthia Kershaw both testified Tuesday that
Knipstrom, whose head and face were covered in blood, had been crying
out continually and resisting restraints during a chaotic scene at the
EZE Rent-it Centre where he was arrested, as well as in the ambulance
and hospital. Knipstrom was Tasered six times, pepper-sprayed and
struck with a police baton.

Skelton broke down several times as she recalled Knipstrom's last
words and moments of life, while his parents Robert and Jo Knipstrom,
sitting in the front row of the coroner's inquest underway in Burnaby,
both wiped away tears.

"We were discussing what we should do, time is passing, and no medical
assistant, no nurse or doctor had come to talk to him," testified Skelton.

"I noticed all of a sudden it got real quiet, and there was no more
noise, I said: 'Are you OK, Robert, are you OK?'"

Kershaw said although there were two paramedics in the room, she was
the first to notice that "his head was off to the side and his face
had started turning a little purplish."

"I started shaking him, saying: 'Hey, Robert.'

"The paramedics yelled 'Code Blue' and, all of a sudden, there were so
many nurses and doctors in the room."

Knipstrom's father also took the stand to relate how his son "sounded
normal" when he called his father to pick him up at the rental centre.

At least eight RCMP officers were handling Knipstrom when his father
arrived.

Knipstrom's father said: "I was yelling, 'Bob, Bob, it's your dad,'"
but his son, cuffed face down, didn't respond.

In earlier testimony, three officers said they deployed Tasers at
least six times to try to control the combative Knipstrom. Nothing
seemed to deter Knipstrom, who can be seen in a disturbing RCMP video
of the arrest that was released to the media.

Knipstrom's father recalled on the stand that he and his wife arrived
at the hospital and were astonished to learn their son "had gone into
cardiac arrest."

"He was on life-support," said Knipstrom's stricken father. "He was
brain-damaged. His heart wouldn't run on its own. He stayed on
life-support and kidney dialysis and then he died," he said, again
breaking down.

RCMP lawyer Helen Roberts argued Monday against the release of the
video, saying it should be made public only after police, ambulance
and fire officials had completed their testimony at the inquest.

Coroner Vincent Stancato disagreed, as did Knipstrom's parents, but
they chose not to watch the video in court.

The inquest is slated to end today Friday. 
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