Hamilton Spectator
2/13/2013
The province should look into the feasibility of putting portable defibrillators in every police car and train officers to use them.
Those recommendations come out of the inquest into the death of a 36-year-old Hamilton man while in custody.
The coroner's inquest heard that years of cocaine abuse had taken its toll on James Kiteley's heart.
Forensic pathologist Dr. John Fernandes testified the amount of heart disease suffered by Kiteley was very unusual in a 36-year-old man and if it had not been for the cocaine use and the heart disease, Kiteley likely would have survived the struggle during his arrest two years ago.
He says the added stress of the fight and being pinned down forced Kiteley's heart to work harder and increased his vulnerability.
Kiteley died in hospital a day after being arrested for stealing a television.
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