In this episode of Clinical Conversations, hosts James Oswald (paramedic and clinical guidelines specialist) and Dr. David Anderson (Medical Director of Ambulance Victoria) dive into one of the most ethically and clinically complex areas of pre-hospital care—the questions of safety for during sedation for acute behavioural disturbance (ABD). They explore the ethical and legal considerations surrounding the use of sedation, the significant clinical risks, and real-world cases that highlight the gravity of these situations.

The episode features a discussion on the tragic case of Elijah McClain, whose death following pre-hospital sedation underscores the importance of safe practices, inter-agency communication, and decision-making in high-stress environments.

James and David also break down Ambulance Victoria’s current approach to sedation, including agent selection, risk assessment, and the importance of de-escalation. They stress the role of checklists, consultation, and a "prevention-first" approach to mitigate risks.

This is the first of a two-part discussion. In the next episode, they will cover preparation for sedation and how to recognize and respond to deterioration.

Further resources

 APIC Session: https://paramedics.org/recordings/acpic24-spotlight-on-sedation

 Clinical Conversations – AcuteBehavioural Disturbance https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ahoO2WWHc27zOLocqoQR8?si=u4Sr_RjeQj-_lzPUWkUelQ

 Safer Care Victoria ABD guideline: https://www.safercare.vic.gov.au/best-practice-improvement/clinical-guidance/emergency/acute-behavioural-disturbance

Get in touch

⁠clinicalguidelines@ambulance.vic.gov.au⁠

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David: ⁠@expensivecare⁠ | @expensivecare.bsky.social

James: ⁠⁠⁠@JamesOz1⁠⁠ | @jamesoz1.bsky.social

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