Derek Chauvin Trial: Defense medical expert says Floyd died of cardiac arrhythmia

Dr. David Fowler, a medical expert for the defense in the Derek Chauvin trial, testified Wednesday (4/14) that George Floyd died of a cardiac arrhythmia due to his heart disease while he was being arrested on May 25.

Fowler, who is the former medical examiner of Maryland, said that “significant contributing conditions” to Floyd’s death were his fentanyl and methamphetamine use, his paraganglioma tumor, and vehicle exhaust from the squad car he was restrained near.

During his testimony Wednesday morning, Fowler noted that methamphetamine use is linked to the narrowing of blood vessels, increased risk of arrhythmia, and increased heart rate. He said that Floyd’s “entire heart,” which was enlarged, was disposed to a reduced blood supply as a result of narrow arteries.

According to media reports, Fowler is the subject of a lawsuit that accuses him of helping to cover up Maryland police’s role in the 2018 death of a 19-year-old Black man.

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