It has puzzled me all along why more attention wasn’t paid by the defense to the possibility of opioid induced pulmonary edema. As described, Mr. Floyd was complaining of shortness of breath from early on in the encounter, prior to any restraint. He had a high level of Fentanyl in his system. Mr. Floyd’s lungs weighed above the normal ra…
It has puzzled me all along why more attention wasn’t paid by the defense to the possibility of opioid induced pulmonary edema. As described, Mr. Floyd was complaining of shortness of breath from early on in the encounter, prior to any restraint. He had a high level of Fentanyl in his system. Mr. Floyd’s lungs weighed above the normal range on autopsy and were found to be “diffusely congested and edematous”. If the pulmonary expert had been asked about this possibility, there is likely no way he could have ruled it out. That is the definition of reasonable doubt.
It has puzzled me all along why more attention wasn’t paid by the defense to the possibility of opioid induced pulmonary edema. As described, Mr. Floyd was complaining of shortness of breath from early on in the encounter, prior to any restraint. He had a high level of Fentanyl in his system. Mr. Floyd’s lungs weighed above the normal range on autopsy and were found to be “diffusely congested and edematous”. If the pulmonary expert had been asked about this possibility, there is likely no way he could have ruled it out. That is the definition of reasonable doubt.
https://bcmj.org/articles/noncardiogenic-pulmonary-edema-associated-ultrapotent-opioid-overdoses