...Which is why I think that this person may have had capacity. (As a mate of mine may have put it, 'six pints? That's breakfast around here'). DSO - I think that the difference in treatment between a diabetic who is hypo and a drunk is threefold. 1) They've done it themselves. (Harsh maybe, but true - personal responsibility has to come into it somewhere, otherwise why would people get arrested and charged with doing naughty things while they are drunk, but not while being hypo?) 2) A diabetic hypo is a medical emergency, being pissed and violent isn't. 3) A diabetic hypo won't cure themselves, a drunk will (normally) get better in time. It's a risk/benefit assessment we do - what would we do with an aggressive drunk should we wrestle them to the ground? Hold them there until they sober up? At the end of the day, and I think you'll agree with me here DSO, your main concern is the safety of yourself, and then the safety of your patient. Unfortunately sometimes you'll get tripped up, but if you can justify your decision making then you *should* be in the clear.