Spit flew from Sam’s mouth as he fought the handcuffs chaining him to the gurney. He swatted away a thermometer and strained against the blood pressure cuff. Eventually, a nurse calmed him enough to measure his vital signs. His blood pressure, temperature and heart rate were skyrocketing.
The nurse called me and a resident physician to his bedside. The 26-year-old was mumbling and shaking. His eyes darted and his body jerked at every loud noise in the busy ER hallway.
“What happened? Why the police escort?” I asked, glancing at the officer nearby.
“He was found like this at home,” the nurse said. “Drugs, I think. He’s been here before for meth. Sad situation.” She moved on to the next patient.