[Comments on the topic of attesting to health status at arrest during medical emergency care]. / Anmerkungen zur Problematik der Attestierung einer Haftfähigkeit während des ärztlichen Bereitschaftsdienstes.

ABSTRACT

A common problem for Emergency Room doctors on call is whether or not an arrested patient is sufficiently healthy to allow his transfer to jail. When there are signs of injury, or doubts about the patient's condition, the police must bring the patient in for medical examination to get a certification of the patient's health condition. He must be examined according to the information about his health and pre-existing conditions. Additional treatment should be undertaken, depending on patient's condition. The diagnoses must be written and summarized accurately and concisely. Additional documentation, such as photographic evidence must also be saved in the medical records. Should there be symptoms of a serious but difficult to diagnose condition, like traumatic head injury, the patient should always be admitted to the hospital. The medical certification or permission for imprisonment can not be enforced when the medical condition of the patient changes.