Home / Crime and Justice / Stroke Mimics Intoxication: Fatal Inquiry Findings Released
Stroke Mimics Intoxication: Fatal Inquiry Findings Released
15 Jun
Summary
- A man died in an RCMP cell due to a stroke mistaken for intoxication.
- Paramedic failed to perform mandatory consciousness tests and follow policies.
- Inquiry made 12 recommendations to prevent future deaths in custody.
A man's death in an RCMP holding cell in Airdrie in May 2019 has prompted a provincial fatality inquiry, which recently released its findings. Michael Mullock, 50, was arrested for public intoxication, but an autopsy revealed he had no intoxicants in his system. He died from a subarachnoid hemorrhage, a type of stroke that can mimic symptoms of alcohol intoxication.
The inquiry highlighted critical failures by emergency medical services and RCMP. An advanced care paramedic did not perform mandatory tests, failed to ensure vital sign monitoring equipment was operational, and did not consult a doctor. EMS acknowledged Mullock should have been transported to a hospital due to his condition.
RCMP guards were responsible for observing inmates every 15 minutes. While logs indicate Mullock was checked, the guard did not perform "rousability" checks or note purposeful movements. Mullock was found unresponsive approximately 10 hours after his arrest and declared deceased. His family declined to be interviewed.
Justice Sandra Mah made 12 recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths. These include hiring paramedics or nurses to assess individuals entering cells, providing paramedics access to medical histories, and updating protocols to better identify symptoms that mimic intoxication. The inquiry also stressed the need for clearer communication between RCMP and EMS regarding assessment responsibilities.
