Page 99 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Winter 2015

is unclear and dependent upon the co-factors 11. Trimel S. Amnesty International urges stricter limits on police
involved. Further research is needed to better Taser use as U.S. death toll reaches 500. 15 February 2012.
define these relationships. 32 http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/press-releases/amnesty
-international-urges-stricter-limits-on-police-taser-use-as-us
-death-toll-reaches-500
Summary 12. Vike GM, Bozeman WP, Chan TC. Emergency department
evaluation after conducted energy weapon use: review of the
It is clear that CEWs are an increasingly prevalent law literature for the clinician. J Emerg Med. 2011:40:598–604.
enforcement tool, adopted to address a complex and 13. Pasquier M, Carron PN, Vallotton L, et al. Electronic control
device exposure: a review of morbidity and mortality. Ann
challenging problem. The potential for serious injury Emerg Med. 2011;58:178–188.
from a single deployment of a CEW is extremely low. 14. Ordog GJ, Wasserberger J, Schlater T, et al. Electronic gun
The debate regarding the link between these electrical (Taser) injuries. Ann Emerg Med. 1987;16:73–78.
weapons and sudden in-custody death is likely to con- 15. Kim PJ, Franklin WH. Ventricular fibrillation after stun-gun
discharge. N Engl J Med. 2005;353:958–959.
tinue because their use is often in complex and volatile 16. Bozeman WP, Teacher E, Winslow JE. Transcardiac con-
situations. Any consideration of injuries has to be put ducted electrical weapon (TASER) probe deployments: inci-
into that context. One must also consider what injuries dence and outcomes. J Emerg Med. 2012;43:970–975.
to a subject would result if an alternative force method 17. Gardner AR, Hauda WE 2nd, Bozeman WP. Conducted elec-
was used. Furthermore, the potential benefits of CEWs, trical weapon (TASER) use against minors; a shocking analy-
sis. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2012;28:873–877.
including reduction in injuries to the public and law- 18. McDaniel W, Stratbucker R, Nerheim M, et al. Cardiac safety
enforcement officers, need to be considered. of neuromuscular incapacitating defensive devices. Pacing
Clin Electrophysiol. 2005;28(Suppl 1):S284–287.
Disclaimer 19. Ho JD, Miner JR, Lakkireddy DR, et al. Cardiovascular and
physiologic effects of conducted electrical weapon discharge
The views and medical opinion herein represent those of in resting adults. Acad Emerg Med. 2006;13:589–595.
the authors. They do not reflect the operation practice 20. Ho JD, Dawes DM, Calkins H, et al. Absence of electrocar-
or views of the Canadian Forces or other organizations. diographic change following prolonged application of a con-
ducted electrical weapon in physically exhausted adults. Acad
The cases are provided to be educational and thought Emerg Med. 2007;14(Suppl 1)::128–129.
provoking; at no time does the author suggest that the 21. Ho J, Reardon RF, Dawes D, et al. Ultrasound measurement
tactical clinicians exceed the scope of their practice or of cardiac activity during conducted electrical weapon appli-
act against the direction of their medical protocols or cation in exercising adults. Ann Emerg Med. 2007;50:S108.
recommendations of their medical leadership. 22. Dawes DM, Ho JD, Cole JB, et al. Effect of an electronic
control device exposure on a methamphetamine-intoxicated
animal model. Acad Emerg Med. 2010;17:436–443.
References 23. Bozeman WP, Winslow JE, Hauda WE II, et al. Injury profile
of TASER electrical conducted energy weapons (CEWs). Pre-
1. National Research Council. An assessment of non-lethal sented at the 39th Scientific Assembly of the American College
weapons science and technology. 2003. http:/www.nap.edu of Emergency Physicians. Seattle, (WA; 8–11 October, 2007.
/catalog/10538.html. 24. Sun H, Haemmerich D, Rahko PS, et al. Estimating the prob-
®
™
2. Taser International, Inc. TASER X26P user course, version ability that the Taser directly causes human ventricular fibril-
19. Scottsdale, AZ: Taser International, Inc.; 2013. lation. J Med Eng Technol. 2010;34:178–191.
™
3. Taser International, Inc. TASER X26P electrical weapon 25. Bozeman W, Teacher E, Winslow J. Transcardiac conducted
specification, version 2. Scottsdale, AZ: Taser International, electrical weapon (TASER) probe deployments: incidence and
Inc.; 2013. outcomes. J Emerg Med. 2012;43:970–975.
4. Hall CA. Public risk from Tasers: unacceptably high or low 26. TASER International, Inc. Restraint during TASER system ap-
enough to accept. CJEM. 2009;11:84–86. plication. Training bulletin 14.0-03 TASER law enforcement
5. Taser barb removal procedure. 2015. http://www.central warnings. Scottsdale, AZ: Taser International, Inc.; 2008.
oregonfireservices.org/ECEMS/2015%20Protocols/3 27. Laub J. Study of deaths following electro muscular disrup-
-Procedures/30-165%20TASER%20Barb%20Removal.pdf. tion. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice; 2011.
6. Taser dart removal protocol. 2008. http://www.gov.mb.ca 28. Zipes D. Sudden cardiac arrest and death associated with
/health/ems/protocols/docs/taser_dart_removal_protocol application of shocks from a Taser electronic control device.
.10.08.pdf Circulation. 2012;125:2417–2422.
7. Ng W, Chehade M. Taser penetrating ocular injury. Am J Op- 29. Vilke G, Chan T, Karch S. Letter by Vilke et al regarding
thamol. 2005;139:713–715. “sudden cardiac arrest and death following application of
8. Li J, Hamill M. Catastrophic globe disruption as a result of a shocks from a TASER electronic control device.” Circulation.
Taser injury. J Emerg Med. 2013;44:65–67. 2013;127:e258.
9. Hinchey PR, Subramaniam G. Pneumothorax as a compli- 30. Ho J, Dawes D. Letter by Ho and Dawes regarding “sud-
cation after Taser activation. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2009;13: den cardiac arrest and death following application of shocks
532–535. from a TASER electronic control device.” Circulation. 2013;
10. American Civil Liberties Union. Unregulated use of Taser stun 127:e259.
guns threatens lives, ACLU of Northern California study finds. 31. Heegard W, Halperin H, Luceri R. Letter by Heegard et al
6 October 2005. https://www.aclu.org/news/unregulated-use regarding “sudden cardiac arrest and death following appli-
-taser-stun-guns-threatens-lives-aclu-northern-california cation of shocks from a TASER electronic control device.”
-study-finds Circulation. 2013;127:e260.

Taser and Conducted Energy Weapons 87