Penalty for Unconsciousness

Excerpt

Several years ago, the editors of Newsweek magazine, commenting on emergency medical identification, showed a greater awareness of an important life-and-death problem than has been shown by members of the medical and paramedical professions or by the personnel of the various police and fire-fighting forces throughout the nation. These authors stated correctly that

"Each year, hundreds of epileptics and diabetics found unconscious by the police are tossed in jail as "drunks"; some diabetics die there for lack of treatment. Thousands of Americans are allergic to penicillin—an injection can produce fatal shock. Thousands more might die if given horse serum anti-tetanus