Police wont face investigation for failed attempts to save OD victims

By Canadian Press

Published: November 13, 2018 at 3:54 PM

A bottle with a hydrocodone (the generic name for drug sold under other names by various pharmaceutical companies) label and hydrocodone tablets spilling out isolated on white background. Hydrocodone is a popular prescription semi-synthetic opioid that is used to treat moderate to severe pain. Hydrocodone is said to be one of the most common recreational prescription drugs in America.iStock/smartstock

Ontario police officers who unsuccessfully administer naloxone to someone overdosing on opioids will no longer face an investigation by the provinces police watchdog.

Ontario police officers who unsuccessfully administer naloxone to someone overdosing on opioids will no longer face an investigation by the province's police watchdog.

The Ontario government says it has amended a regulation under the Police Services Act so that police chiefs aren't required to notify the Special Investigations Unit when an officer administers naloxone or other first aid to a person who doesn't survive, provided there was no other action that could have caused the person's death.

The province says that puts police officers on par with other first responders, who can carry and administer naloxone but don't face the same level of oversight.

The union representing provincial police officers had called for the Special Investigations Unit to end the practice of launching an investigation when an officer unsuccessfully administers naloxone.

The union has said there was concern among officers that they could end up being investigated for ``trying to save a life.''

Naloxone can temporarily reverse overdoses from opioids such as heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone and hydrocodone.