Tragic last moments of overdosing man who doctor thought was faking symptoms

12 January 2024 , 10:50

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Shocking footage of the last moments of a man suffering from a drugs overdose discharged by a doctor who claimed he was faking his symptoms has emerged.

Cops found the man, who was covered in faeces and moving slowly on Portland’s TriMet MAX train. He told officers that he had used drugs and was in pain so they took him to the hospital, according to a review by the Multnomah County Prosecutor’s Office.

Jean DesCamps, 26, was then admitted to Providence Milwaukie Hospital on December 12 where he was showered, given antibiotics for infections and received "a little" Narcan for "mild opioid intoxication". Staff described DesCamps to police as a "chronic problem" and did not appear to order a toxicology report or drug screening.

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Jean DesCamps was unresponsive and drooling but was still discharged (Milwaukie Police Department)

Doctors decided he was ready to be discharged but at 9.45pm a security guard at the hospital called on officers to remove Descamps from the A&E for "being difficult" and refusing to go. However, when officers arrived they said he was "groaning and drooling" and appeared unable to move.

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Footage released by the Milwaukie Police Department shows Descamp slumped in a hotel chair with scabs and sores covering his legs. In the clip, one staff member can be heard saying: "There is no medical reason for him to be here anymore, and it’s all behavioural."

A doctor added that DesCamps was "playing possum" and that the officers should just drop him off at a bus stop. When an officer argued that he could die, the physician said he was medically cleared and he was faking his symptoms. He had several warrants for his arrest outstanding for criminal mischief and unauthorised use of a vehicle, but officials at the Clackamas County Jail told cops they would not accept DesCamps if he was unable to walk or care for himself.

Medical staff at the hospital accused DesCamps of 'faking it' (Milwaukie Police Department)

The bodycam footage shows two officers put the man’s arms above his head while they handcuff him, but his wrists are limp. The cops are gentle when they pick him up and place him in a wheelchair. However, the officers seem to have misgivings about what they are being forced to do and one says: "Do you at all feel comfortable with anything that is going on right now?" His colleague responds: "No".

They officers then took him to another hospital, Unity Behavioral Medical Center in Portland, calling ahead to staff there to warn them that DesCamps is in "bad shape". However, outside the hospital, the alert officers notice that the stricken man may not be breathing and the district attorney's office, in a statement, said: "When they could not confirm a pulse, the officers immediately removed DesCamps from the vehicle, uncuffed him, and performed CPR until medical took over.

Tragically, he was declared dead at 11.31pm. In the bodycam footage, one officer tells an ambulance medic: "I’ve been saying for years, it’s a matter of time before they refuse to do care and make us do something. That guy does not need to be dead right now. Their mindset there is, 'Oh, it’s just another tweaker'."

Police officers were told to remove DesCamps from the hospital (Milwaukie Police Department)

Emergency medical staff told the cops they had taken the correct action and that they should call an ambulance for medical transport from one hospital if they find themselves in a situation again with a similar patient. One officer explained that Providence Hospital refused to re-admit the man, adding: "I mean he is not verbal, he is not talking, he has got an involuntary drool, and they are like, nope, there is nothing wrong with him."

The police officers were cleared of any criminality regarding his death, the DA’s office said, while the State Medical Examiner’s Office determined DesCamps died of a drug overdose and contributing natural causes.

Authorities at the Providence hospital said the bodycam footage was "difficult to watch" and is conducting an internal review into the incident. A spokesperson for the facility said: "We recognise we have a lot of work to do in building better relationships with our first responders, especially the officers in the Milwaukie Police Department. Police and emergency personnel have difficult, high-pressure jobs – and we commit to doing more to ease their way."

The hospital has now been issued with a 'immediate jeopardy notice' (Milwaukie Police Department)

The Oregon Health Authority notified Providence Milwaukie Hospital that it was facing an "immediate jeopardy notice" which means that its federal funding is under threat. The hospital said it was addressing OHA’s concerns by "reinforcing our existing processes for caring for and discharging patients with our Providence Milwaukie caregivers".

The hospital said that its emergency department doctors are not employed by Providence but are contracted with Oregon Emergency Physicians.