yesterday.

And the six-man, two-woman jury recommended that Police and all medical personnel familiarise themselves with a condition called cocaine-induced psychosis in a bid to avoid another tragedy.

It took the panel almost an hour-and-a-half to conclude that Mr. Burgess, 38, of Rosemont Avenue, Pembroke, died on May 27, 1996 at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital from cocaine-induced psychosis.

They also added a rider to their verdict suggesting that certain procedures be embodied into the Police and hospital's policy.

The jury adopted its recommendation from a passage in an article entitled Cocaine-Induced Psychosis and Sudden Death in Recreational Cocaine Users published in the July 1985 issue of the Journal of Forensic Science.

"Police and emergency paramedical personnel should be aware of the potential for sudden death in association with excited delirium,'' it read.

"As such, there should be no delay in transporting such patients to a nearby medical facility and the cardio-respiratory status should be constantly observed.'' The passage advised emergency room doctors to be prepared to treat victims of cocaine-induced psychosis with medication to calm them and support their breathing.

"It is hoped that prompt diagnosis and therapy may prevent sudden respiratory collapse and death in these recreational cocaine users.'' American pathologist Dr. Valerie Rao told the inquest that Mr. Burgess died of a cocaine-induced psychosis stemming from a mixture of alcohol and cocaine.

The rare reaction caused Mr. Burgess to become excited and paranoid leading to fatal respiratory collapse.

Yesterday's recommendations will be passed on to the Acting Commissioner of Police Jean-Jacques Lemay and King Edward VII Memorial Hospital officials.

Hospital spokesperson Kendaree Burgess-Fairn said officials usually examine inquest recommendations to see if it is viable to implement them.

Prior to their deliberations, Senior Coroner Will Francis gave the jury several possible verdicts to consider.

"You can say that some person or persons had the opportunity to render Mr.

Burgess care that would have prevented his death,'' he explained. "If you find that this was more likely than not, you can say it was an accidental death aggravated by a lack of care.

"You don't have to point the finger at anyone or place liability on anyone.

You are just saying that there was a real opportunity to save him from death that was missed.'' The Royal Gazette was unable to contact Burgess family lawyer Julian Hall to see if the family planned any further action over the matter. A second family lawyer Kim Wilson was unavailable for comment due to illness.

During the eight-day inquest the jury heard allegations that a Police detective punched an erratic Mr. Burgess while he was being placed in a Police car following a violent episode on a City street.

There were also questions regarding the medical decisions made when Mr.

Burgess was detained by Police and the length of time it took to get the ailing man to the Island's only medical hospital.

A volatile Mr. Burgess was spotted by several people banging his head on City buildings, the jury heard.