Death Cymbalta & Celexa 28/09/2007 Arizona Daughter-In-Law of Famous New York Activist Dies In Air Rage Case Summary:

First two paragraphs read:  "Several factors - including mixing large doses of two prescription drugs - made Carol Anne Gotbaum more likely to have medical problems after she was shackled in an airport holding cell, an expert hired by her family says."

"'We are not talking about a drug death, but a death where drugs made her more susceptible,'  said pathologist Cyril Wecht on Monday."

Paragraph 9 reads:  "Drug tests show that Gotbaum had taken both Celexa and Cymbalta, when she should have taken just one prescription antidepressant, Wecht said. Combining the drugs with alcohol would have made it tough for Gotbaum to get enough oxygen in her system, Wecht said."



http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1112gotbaum1112-ON.html

Expert: Police in airport death could have done more
Jahna Berry
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 12, 2007 04:26 PM

Several factors - including mixing large doses of two prescription drugs - made Carol Anne Gotbaum more likely to have medical problems after she was shackled in an airport holding cell, an expert hired by her family says.

"We are not talking about a drug death, but a death where drugs made her more susceptible," said pathologist Cyril Wecht on Monday.

Wecht says he essentially agrees with the Maricopa County medical examiner that the death was an accident, but the police should have gotten medical help soon after they encountered Gotbaum, the pathologist argued.
 
Phoenix Police Department has repeatedly argued that there was no way for officers to know that Gotbaum had health problems when she was arrested.

"The moment that we were made aware that she was in medical distress, we made every effort to revive her," said police spokesman Sgt. Andy Hill.

Gotbaum died at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Sept. 28. She was arrested in Terminal 4 when she began screaming hysterically and running in the airport. The outburst began when Gotbaum wasn't allowed to board a Tucson flight because she came to the gate late.

When police found Gotbaum unconscious in her cell, officers could not revive her.

On Friday, a Maricopa County medical examiner ruled that Gotbaum accidentally strangled to death in police chains.

Drug tests show that Gotbaum had taken both Celexa and Cymbalta, when she should have taken just one prescription antidepressant, Wecht said. Combining the drugs with alcohol would have made it tough for Gotbaum to get enough oxygen in her system, Wecht said.

Lab tests showed that Gotbaum blood alcohol level was .24 or three times the legal limit for driving in Arizona.

Gotbaum's high-adrenaline outburst in the airport and her later struggle with police may have also depleted Gotbaum of oxygen, Wecht said.