Was Derek Chauvin's use of force against George Floyd justified? The former police officer's attorney said yes, pointing to a controversial syndrome known as "excited delirium" to explain Floyd's frenzied behavior while in custody. Does this defense withstand scientific scrutiny? Meanwhile, 10,000 steps: it's a magic threshold often used to pinpoint fitness, but there's little evidence behind this popular idea.
Join host Cameron English, Dr. Chuck Dinerstein and Dr. Barbara Billauer as they break down these stories on Episode 57 of the Science Dispatch podcast:
Doctors use “diagnostic” labels to describe a condition or constellation of symptoms and signs before determining treatment or rendering a prognosis. Diagnostic criteria generally remain static and serve as a collective reference point for the medical world. Not so for the diagnosis of “excited delirium.” Not only has the meaning of “excited delirium” morphed over time, but the legal community has conscripted it for non-medical purposes, like defending claims of excessive force by police officers. Recently, the medical community rejected this use and “revoked” the diagnosis. Who benefits?
Ten thousand steps for exercise and health, much like ten thousand hours to become an “expert,” are magic quantifications passed down without clear origins. Some researchers sought some scientific clarity.
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