CAUSE OF DEATH:TOXIC EFFECTS OF ACUTE COCAINE USEMANNER OF DEATH:ACCIDENT(Medical Examiner's) Opinion and Comment:This initially unidentified 39-year-old white male, Ronald Joseph Corona, Jr., likely died as a result of complications of acute cocaine use. The autopsy examination did not disclose any catastrophic natural disease processes or significant acute injuries. The postmortem drug screen was positive for cocaine and a metabolite of cocaine (benzoylecgonine). No alcohol (ethyl alcohol) or other licit or illicit drugs were detected in the postmortem blood.The findings at the scene (which reportedly were indicative of erratic behavior), combined with the autopsy findings, were consistent with a condition referred to as "Excited Delirium Syndrome," as described in Excited Delirium Syndrome by Theresa and Vincent Di Maio (copyright 2006). This condition is commonly seen in association with certain types of drug use and/or mental illness and can terminate in a sudden cardiac arrest due to the increase in catecholamines (such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine) in the bloodstream. This type of stress and stimulation results in what is commonly referred to as a "fight or flight" response that, when excessive, can trigger a cardiac dysrhythmia and sudden cardiac arrest.Opinion and Comment, continued:As the subject died as a complication of his acute cocaine use and there was no evidence of involvement of another/others in the subject's death, the manner of death is ruled as "accident."The subject was positively identified by a postmortem fingerprint comparison with a copy of the subject's fingerprints reportedly obtained from law enforcement in Pennsylvania.Carol A. Terry, M.D.
I wish I had not read that. Not for the faint hearted.
I feel like I invaded his privacy. After reading it, I am of the opinion that the opinion and conclusions of the Medical Examiner of this autopsy are appropriate. QuoteCAUSE OF DEATH:TOXIC EFFECTS OF ACUTE COCAINE USEMANNER OF DEATH:ACCIDENT(Medical Examiner's) Opinion and Comment:This initially unidentified 39-year-old white male, Ronald Joseph Corona, Jr., likely died as a result of complications of acute cocaine use. The autopsy examination did not disclose any catastrophic natural disease processes or significant acute injuries. The postmortem drug screen was positive for cocaine and a metabolite of cocaine (benzoylecgonine). No alcohol (ethyl alcohol) or other licit or illicit drugs were detected in the postmortem blood.The findings at the scene (which reportedly were indicative of erratic behavior), combined with the autopsy findings, were consistent with a condition referred to as "Excited Delirium Syndrome," as described in Excited Delirium Syndrome by Theresa and Vincent Di Maio (copyright 2006). This condition is commonly seen in association with certain types of drug use and/or mental illness and can terminate in a sudden cardiac arrest due to the increase in catecholamines (such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine) in the bloodstream. This type of stress and stimulation results in what is commonly referred to as a "fight or flight" response that, when excessive, can trigger a cardiac dysrhythmia and sudden cardiac arrest.Opinion and Comment, continued:As the subject died as a complication of his acute cocaine use and there was no evidence of involvement of another/others in the subject's death, the manner of death is ruled as "accident."The subject was positively identified by a postmortem fingerprint comparison with a copy of the subject's fingerprints reportedly obtained from law enforcement in Pennsylvania.Carol A. Terry, M.D.That is all one really needs to know.
I. Blood from iliac veins positive for (per State Crime Laboratory)A. Cocaine, 0.18 mg/L (+/- 22%)B. Benzoylecgonine, 9.6 mg/L (+/- 22%)
Opinion and Comment:This initially unidentified 39-year-old white male, Ronald Joseph Corona, Jr.,likely died as a result of complications of acute cocaine use. [..][..] The findings at the scene (which reportedly were indicative of erratic behavior), combined with the autopsy findings, were consistent with a condition referred to as "Excited Delirium Syndrome"
Excited delirium is a condition that manifests as a combination of delirium, psychomotor agitation, anxiety, hallucinations, speech disturbances, disorientation, violent and bizarre behavior, insensitivity to pain, elevated body temperature, and superhuman strength.[1][2] Excited delirium is sometimes called excited delirium syndrome if it results in sudden death (usually via cardiac or respiratory arrest), an outcome that is sometimes associated with the use of physical control measures, including police restraint and tasers.[1][2] Excited delirium arises most commonly in male subjects with a history of serious mental illness and/or acute or chronic drug abuse, particularly stimulant drugs such as cocaine.[1][3] Alcohol withdrawal or head trauma may also contribute to the condition.[4]
The diagnosis of excited delirium has been controversial.[5][6] Excited delirium has been listed as a cause of death by some medical examiners for several years,[7][8] mainly as a diagnosis of exclusion established on autopsy.[1] Additionally, academic discussion of excited delirium has been largely confined to forensic science literature, providing limited documentation about patients that survive the condition.[1] These circumstances have led some civil liberties groups to question the cause of death diagnosis, claiming that excited delirium has been used to "excuse and exonerate" law enforcement authorities following the death of detained subjects, a possible "conspiracy or cover-up for brutality" when restraining agitated individuals.[1][5][6] Also contributing to the controversy is the role of taser use in excited delirium deaths.[3][9] The American College of Emergency Physicians has officially recognized excited delirium as a unique syndrome[10] and "rejects the theory" that excited delirium is an "invented syndrome" used to excuse or cover-up the use of excessive force by law enforcement.[11] However, it has not been recognized as a medical or psychiatric diagnosis according to either the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) of the American Psychiatric Association or the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization.[12]
Tachydysrhythmias cause most acute cocaine-related nontraumatic deaths. Other causes of sudden death include stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, hyperthermia, and the consequences of agitated delirium. Myocardial infarction (MI) can result from acute vasospasm, dysrhythmia, or chronic accelerated atherogenic disease.
Agitated (excited) deliriumPatients presenting with agitated delirium, also known as excited delirium, are at high risk for sudden death, with a fatality rate of approximately 10%.[14] Agitated delirium is a common presentation in patients dying from cocaine toxicity. Of cocaine-associated deaths investigated by the Medical Examiner's Department of Metropolitan Dade County, Florida, between 1979 and 1990, excited delirium was the terminal event in approximately 1 of every 6 fatalities. Patients with excited delirium had an immediate onset of bizarre and violent behavior, which included aggression, combativeness, hyperactivity, hyperthermia, extreme paranoia, unexpected strength, and/or incoherent shouting. All of these were followed by cardiorespiratory arrest.[13]
Excellent work to obtain the autopsy report. Of greatest interest to me is the following from page 3: "Investigator Whaley said he had located a missing person's report from theNorcross Police Department. It listed an individual that had been living at anextended stay motel within a few miles of the location the decedent was found."Who made this report? When? Why?
What motel?
How often were NNGA patients and staff put up there for "time outs" a/k/a do whatever the hell you want because we certainly don't give a damn? If I recall correctly, such temporary placements were pretty much standard operating practice for people like Brandon O who kept right on doing drugs while in the program but had family members who were able and willing to keep writing checks.
I'm eagerly awaiting the licensing appeal hearing later this month.
There needs to be a push in Georgia, and other states that operate this way, to shut them down first, let them appeal the decision later.
PaulaFW• a year agoMy cousin just died of a drug or alcohol overdose while working as a drug and alcohol counselor at Narcanon of Georgia, after "graduating" from the program. Of couse, Nacrcanon said he was "let go" before he went missing. He was found dead in an industrial park by a janitor and his body layed in a morgue, decomposing, for 10 days before he was identified. Our family is mortified!!! The only people who knew him in Georgia were Narcanon people (we are from PA) and NO ONE there cared to try to find out what happened to him. This place is a disgrace and something needs to be done! Where do we start??
Warning: Not for the faint-hearted.We have the Ron Corona Jr. autopsy report now:http://alley.ethercat.com/storage/Autopsy-RonCoronaJr.pdf
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Topic: A NEW NARCONON DEATH NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT (Read 55841 times)