Emergency medical association rejects ‘excited delirium,’ used to describe some deaths in police custody

ACEP has rejected "excited delirium," a term used to justify in-custody deaths, amid criticism over its racial bias and scientific legitimacy.

The disavowal of ACEP's 2009 paper, which supported the term, marks a major shift, impacting its use in court cases and law enforcement.

This stance echoes earlier rejections by major medical groups, highlighting a growing consensus against the term's validity and its role in enforcing racial biases.