Woman dies after collapse in New Orleans Parish jail’s psych unit
by Laura Maggi, The Times-Picayune
A 43-year-old woman died this week after she collapsed in the jail’s psychiatric unit while in restraints, a spokesman for the Orleans Parish criminal sheriff’s office said Friday.
Cayne Miceli was arrested Sunday afternoon on municipal charges at Tulane Medical Center, where she had been treated for severe asthma, according to records and interviews with friends. After she was discharged, Miceli caused a “disturbance” and bit a Tulane University police officer, according to municipal court records.
She was booked with battery of a police officer, resisting arrest and disturbing the peace.
Miceli’s unusual death led friends to question both the medical treatment she received at the hospital and her subsequent experience at the jail.
“She turned to a system that she felt she could trust and this is what happened, ” said Steve Picou, a friend.
The Orleans Parish coroner’s office has not ruled on what caused Miceli’s death, which was reported to the office by University Hospital on Tuesday, said John Gagliano, the chief investigator. Gagliano said the office is awaiting toxicology reports, which will not be available for three weeks.
Friends described Miceli as a vivacious and gregarious woman who suffered from severe asthma and battled emotional and mental troubles. On Sunday, she went to Tulane Medical Center because she was having trouble breathing, friends said.
Officials with Tulane confirmed that she was treated for a “clinical concern, ” which the hospital would not specify, then discharged. At some point after she was discharged, Miceli caused a scene and bit a university officer just outside the waiting room, said Kim Graham, vice president of nursing. As per policy, hospital officials called New Orleans police, she said. Read More
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