A sheriff has criticised the “degrading” need to handcuff a prisoner who screamed for his mother before he died from bleeding in his brain at Ninewells Hospital.
Sheriff Alastair Brown said there were no reasonable grounds by which the death of 43-year-old Scott Welch in February last year could have been avoided.
The sheriff was disturbed to learn, however, that Welch remained handcuffed to a prison officer in Ninewells at a time when he was becoming confused and his condition was deteriorating.
The prisoner had been described as pleasant and easy to deal with. He showed no signs of attempting to escape and there was no suggestion he was a threat to anyone.
In his judgment on the fatal accident inquiry into Welch’s death, the sheriff said: “I wonder whether the handcuffing was truly necessary and it seems to me that to keep a person on a chain even when he or she is usingthe toilet is, on the face of it, degrading.”
Welch, of Norman View, Leuchars, was jailed for three years at Cupar Sheriff Court in 2011 for stabbing his victim three times in an unprovoked attack.
The FAI heard he died from an acute subdural haemorrhage after suffering a brain injury. He complained of feeling unwell in Perth Prison and was taken to Ninewells.
He became sick as his car approached the hospital and his condition deteriorated. Welch was seen banging his head and thrashing about, and there was evidence this could have caused bleeding in his brain.
He was susceptible to bleeding as a result of medication which meant his blood couldn’t clot properly.
His medication was necessary, and his history of alcohol misuse might have reduced the size of his brain and stretched and weakened bridging veins.
The sheriff noted that Welch was treated by prison officers with care, compassion and humanity, and at one point they helped medical and nursing staff try to save him.
This was far beyond their call of duty and they were commended for their actions. The Scottish Prison Service noted the determination of Sheriff Brown.
He added: “We also note his findings that our staff acted with great care, compassion and humanity. We will consider all his comments in detail as we do in all cases.”