Comments on: The Inside Story on Mr. Universe Suing Over Police Scuffle After All

By: Nick

Nick — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 07:00:18 +0000

Frankly, I’m disgusted to see so few people standing up for the rights of diabetics like Mr. Burns. $5million must be the amount it takes to make a point in this country. A country where money talks. If I were in Doug’s shoes I’d make as many waves as it takes to get the point across. Shame on anyone who doesn’t stand behind him. He is the victim here.

By: Police macing victim: sorry I sued for $5 million

Police macing victim: sorry I sued for $5 million — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 01:31:23 +0000

[...] Championship bodybuilder Doug Burns, who sued the government of Redwood City, Calif. over an incident in which police scuffled with him not realizing that his erratic behavior was the result of insulin shock, defended his decision to file a suit but agreed that the dollar amount assigned was over the top. “The lawyers jacked up the amount, because they always expect to settle for less. ‘Something like this shouldn’t have a $5 million dollar price tag on it. I should have had a better look at the amount. It’s my fault,’ Doug told [blogger Amy Tenderich]“. (Diabetes Mine, Jun. 22). [...]

By: chas

chas — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 18:14:01 +0000

I think that today there are training measures in place for police officers. A perfect example is the AED thst some towns supply in their police units. I have been a medic in my state for 30+ years and heva trained police in 1st aid,CPR and 1st responders courses. I think every person in law enforcement should be trained from dispatcher to rookie policeman.

By: Dan (loves his diabetic socks) Brady

Dan (loves his diabetic socks) Brady — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:54:28 +0000

A very interesting dilema, I agree with what the official bodies had to say though. I am sick to death of over-arching law enforcement (taser deaths and the like) … and somebody has to draw a line in the sand.

I support his claim.

By: LaurenK

LaurenK — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:19:08 +0000

Wow. I find your comments incredible, Felix. Yes, I do think that American police should be trained to assess medical emergencies. They have a responsibility to the people in their communities, some of whom have disabilities and medical conditions. Police carry weapons and can use force. So yes, I do think they need to be trained and they need to be held to a very high level of accountability. An Alzheimer’s patient should NOT be roughed up for failing to answer questions promptly. A person having a seizure is not kicking or flailing in an act of violence, that person is having involuntary convulsions. A dazed hypoglycemic man should not be wrestled to the ground and kicked in the ribs. We should all be outraged when such things happen.

Cops signed up for the job. They signed up to “serve and protect” their communities, and protection is what ALL citizens are entitled to.

By: Felix Kasza

Felix Kasza — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:05:14 +0000

beth,
I did read Lauren’s comment It was one the more annoying ones, in my opinion. Lauren would apparently require that all of us be trained enough to distinguish a post-ictal (post-seizure) patient from a drunk and a violent hypoglycaemic patient from a violent non-diabetic (or a violent drunk).

This is too much of a burden to impose on the rest of the world. It is too selfish and too egocentric by far.

Finally, if someone kicks at me, I will run away, or kick back, or restrain that person, according to circumstances. I will certainly not invite the poor possibly-hypoglycaemic kicker to hit me again.

What next, a defence claiming that being a violent drunk isn’t so bad because “the devil alcohol made me do it, your Honour?”

Cheers,
Felix.

By: beth

beth — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:57:31 +0000

Felix,
Didn’t you read LaurenK’s comment above? “Perhaps Doug wasn’t able to get to fast-acting carbohydrate in time to prevent a low, but that oversight or incidence of poor planning is in no way comparable to the brutal actions of the police.”

This discussion is about what a reasonable response to the situation at hand would’ve been, not making diabetes “an excuse for everything” as you say.

By: Felix Kasza

Felix Kasza — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:44:33 +0000

Is being diabetic now an excuse for everything?

If a hypoglycaemic driver plows his car into a group of pedestrians, should we pat him on the head and congratulate him on not doing it five times a day, what with this horrible disability?

Stop whining, and start living up to your — our! — responsibilities.

Cheers,
Felix.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:25:57 +0000

I think it’s great that he’s suing and getting press about it. The $5 million price tag will get tons of attention and that might be more effective in alerting police to the danger of not checking medical bracelets than anything else. I say it’s great that he’s fighting. And if he does something wonderful with the settlement money, great. But I won’t fault him for keeping it either — he’s taking one for the team and deserves compensation for that as well as his pain and suffering.

By: LaurenK

LaurenK — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 07:26:42 +0000

I just can’t get that picture of Doug — battered, cuffed, and horribly hypoglycemic — out of my head. If I were that low I would barely understand what was happening to me, it would feel like a waking nightmare. It is heartbreaking.

I commend Doug for making every effort to turn this into a positive opportunity to educate. Even if the city had been more cooperative, I feel that this still belongs in court, since the police need to be held responsible for their senseless, brutal behavior AND their attempt to cover it up.

If the police had any sense of decency or humanity they would have recognized a human being in need of help. Perhaps Doug wasn’t able to get to fast-acting carbohydrate in time to prevent a low, but that oversight or incidence of poor planning is in no way comparable to the brutal actions of the police.