I iF7

nne r! "" II' r. . . . .'

.,

SECTION II: p. 1
Olll(j"~AL LUI IlIilUU IIUN

laser" irlJUfies

Electronic Gun (Taser®) Injuries
The 1l1.'lcrK is ,m dcctrical weapolJ lI.'w,1 lor immohilizmicm. 1\vo hUHdn·.J
cil!lltetm IUlliems who were ~hot hy police with tI 11Iscr"' for \!iolelll or ('fUJii·
J1,1I l1elwvwr were compared 10 22 simihlT Iwticnts shot hy police with ..iN
Sl'ccillJs. The IOllx·ternJ tllofhidity rutc was signijiclmtly dif!ercJJt iOf "(,/""ed" victims (11%) lind for IIl",e lVitlll"dlel lVouuds (50%) (I' .< .1I5). 'J1",
IIIOJldlily rate was "Iso significantly different between "ltlsered" \';clim,,.

Ii
f

:('
j,.

(1.4'ru). mHI guwsJwt wound victims (5()I%,,) (p < ,OS). Possi/JIc cOIlJ/JliccltiolJS
assw.:idled with 7lm!fJl. wounds indw/ed ('(JI1I11S;ons. lIhwsiollS. dllt/ldee,',,IlolIS (38 fr.d; mild r}wbdolJ}yo!ysis (l'YuJ; dlld,tcsticllhlf torsioll (O.5%J. Although 48% of "losered" patiellls ree/Hired IwspiU,}izellioJJ. t,lI Iml oue \\'ih
for u preeXisting injury or IOxic or psychiauic prohlem. \V~ COlJdlldc tlhll
7h..ersl> lIrc reJ"U\'eJy safe when compared to shooting with more com'cu0tlflildl well/Ions. IOulog GI, W"sserberger I, Schlater t BaltlsulnamdlliwJJ S:
.ft!ctnJllic gUll (1hser-JSI) injuries. Alln Emerg Med lanuary 191:J7;16:7,l7~.f

INTRODUCTION

.

Gilly J O,oog Mil. FACEI'. rAACI
JOll<,ilhan W;j5~efbcIU(:I, MD If\CLP
lllt::odole SClllillet: MO, f-ACS
Sub' amanldrn Baku,ubt a' I Ji.,JrUl II I I,
MD. fACS
los Angeles, Caillolllid
,

From tile Oep,ulHlBnl of Eml:luency
MulhClnc, KinD OIl;W Mcdll~dl CtJllh~"
eUl,j llle DlewlJCLA MedlCdl Si,lulIII,
Lo:> Angele:>. CdlllwlHd
Received lor publication J~llllJW y 20. 1£180
ReVision received May 27, 19till Accepkd
lor pulJllcaholl JUlle 24, 1£186
Address for repollls; Gary J Of (jog, Mil

Taser" IThomas A Swift's Elecrric Rifle) guns' have been used by lawen- fACEI'. fAAC1. Ilox 219. 12021 5,,,.11,
fnrcement ufficers for immobilizing violent suspects and those on ~Irugs, es- Wlhlunglon AVl~ntl~. l05 AllUelc~,
pecially PCP Iphencyclidine Iphenyl-cycJohexyl-piperidinell. 1 ..\ Simi"... Cdhloffllil 90W)U
electric rifles have been used by private citizens for self-protection. The Taser'" gun is used because it is claimed to have the advantage of not pennanently harming the victim, while at the same time immobilizing the victim
ilnd controlling violent behavior. 4 This prevents injury to others and alleviates the need to use physical force and bullets, which obviously produce
more serious cunsequences. The Taser" is generally used when there is no
immediate lethal threat to the police or bystanders and when proximity to
and control of the suspect is required. If the suspect prescnts an immedi.lte
danger to others, such as threateniog with a gun or knife, a .38 Spedal may
be used according to established police protocols. 4
The Tase.... is an electrical gUll that shoots darrs (usually tWO or fourl up lU
iI range of 15 feet. The dans arc connected to the gun by wires that deliver up
lU 5ll,()(Xl v"hs 13 mAl to the victim. For maximum effect, the shah shuulJ
penetrate lilt: skin wherc, because of barhs, the dans arc not easily removed
unle~ the skin is lacerated or ripped open. Immobilization of lhe vil:tim
occurs when the trigger of the gun is squeezed and current flows through the
suspect's skin. Due to tetanic contraction of the muscles, the victim usuall y
falls. The trigger can be squeezed as rC4uin:d to maintain immuhilizaliull.
The barbs do not have to penetrate the skin for immobilization; only Cl)ma..:t
with the victim's clothing is rcquircd, and one barb is usually effective.
After Taser.all immobilization, the victim is physically restrained, the wires
to the dans arc Cllt, and the victim is taken to the hospital for removal of the
dans, The batb is like a fishhook and re4uires surgical removal.
f ,The mechanics and ballistic pro~r!ies of the Taser-6' have been di~cusseJ
Vtlly by KoSCOVC,5 but to date no chmcal study has shown the df~CllVCI1~SS
,
and safety of the Taser. ~

'-

.~

,•

,

MATERIALS AND METHODS

,

We conducted a prospective case study of all patil:nts brought to the emergency department of the King/Drew Medical Center in L<,u; Angeles whtl had
been shot with a Taser~ gun between July 1980 and Pecember 19M5. Infllfma·
..... ,v,

. I

• • • •'.7.7.7;;•.E.-.'.'M.7.n••II!!!II,.,II.iIiIi~5i_'IIi'.! _ _..,

----------------

1115EI1" INJI JIm
Ordog ,,' ~I




s

SECTION II: p. 2

FI<;lJHE 1. 1Il\lf'()/fI.~\, o( 'lISt'Ied
/'(1'; ('",.. I \"II" 11 'Ct'" t pill'" (Td; tli 11('
alms('. n \r"I"" 2,J homs, ,'\' "i,stm\':

S,'''''11
1

-~_I

__ I

90

1

1'''(,11'
(Tditlin., 1"\"('/, tl/1d lin" /t'n'ls in l'iI2) I'n,q';\'t' ,,,jlll' or

t;/,,,,,,

an

\\-ho lIit'd: .11 Ph",<;icfll ,,;~1J.<; of
I'hcnc.' '."he Ii til'
II.\" ;ctll;e m. inc Ir uUng
".,",qll.l.!lII11S. I1nlle /"","('/10";"_ ".'"I'CTtJIl',,,,ill. ,/,111'''01('.'\;,... lIuel df"'tlled
Nom/ I'W"<;f/1(':.' '.'( 1''.1 ~ 41 N.n"lIgmrrs
wi,h
hm;::oI11al and \'erticdl
n Iml'OHfnl s !,1t'Sf'II'.?·' tH. "'. ,]

i,,'

1

-------~---,

70 -

•

60

1

"'
0-

Z

h,,"

w

;=

50 '

<

~

"-

_0 '

"

30 -

0

F1<;[HlE 2. An"tn"'.l·
Tt,scr ~ dfln .'\.

of <'Iubedded

20 '

linn WilS l:olhTll'd 011 "'~l', ~l·X:. race,
who shot thl' Wl':lrOn, whether fl"
~n:1ints Wl'fl' lISt.,..t, medic,,1 t1i:tRJlOSis,
compliciltions of laser It, 'U1topsy re~ults, 1lH.,thod of h;nh removal, and as·
soci:Ht,tJ hl';1tml'nt. The patients who
died l1:hl ftlll autopsies l'l'IfoT111l'd hy
the Los An,~de", County nllOller's IIf(ice to t1ctl'lmine thl' cause of death.
P:ltit'nts included in the stutly were:tll
thosl' shot with a Taser ll who prescnt-

!

!

1

ed to the Kin~/J)rew emer~ency der:ntnH.'1lt. None was excluded.
These data wcrc comparcd to similar data on r.1tients who were shot
with .,~R Spc:cial h:1Ild~lIns hy police
officers for the control of either vin·
lent or crimin;11 hl'1l:lvior and who
Wl'n' hml1~ht fllr tre:lInu"nI to the
Kill~/1 hew Ml'tlicll Ccnter t1uril1~ the
pt'rintl from l;lIll1:lry 19RO to Dccemhcr
19H21 Only pa'ients who were sho' hy
police officers were incluclt'd, This was
usually verified hy the acc()mpanyin~
officer. All patients mcetin~ these criteria were included, except those for
whom only ht';H5:1Y eVhll-nce indicated that it was 3n officer-related
shootin~ :md those not hroll~ht to the
hospit,11 :lftt'r hl'in~ shot hy police
who Illay havc hl'cn hamlle\1 hy the
coroller's office with no m{'dical treatml'nf. P;Hit'llls were I1l1t ;IW41ft' that
they were hein,g studit'd, :lml consent
was Tlllt rcqlliH'd hccaust' treatment
W:1S lel1dt'ICd :1ct'md;n~ to ('siahli~h{'d
plOt(ll:ol~ of st:IIHlmd l11l'\lical practice.
No hlilHlit1~ \\':1<: lIsed; fotO% of c1inic:!1
Oh.. . l'r\·;lIiol1s w('le malic hy rhe p,incip;11 ;mlhOl, :mel the u'f1l:1indcr wcre

m;HIe In' t'nWlCl'I1c\' medicine lesident
•

1

•

""ff.
SI;ltic.;tic.,1 :llwly.. . is indtl{lnt caleul:!liOI1 of st:lIHbld deviation, chi-squall',

:mll ANOVA lromp<lTison of uncqu:l1
gllltl 1''' I usi1l1~ :111

II\M-PC" :llld Sial'

,gt;ll'hir" ~ 1'11I.Ct:lI11,

o
HISTORY( 1)

LEVElS(2)

SIGNS(J)

NYSTAGUUS(4)

UETMOO OF DIAGNOSIS OF PCP

1
- -

1

-

ClUTEAl

(12.0~)

A800M~N

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

,

-- ._.:'"P~~RllVlJlj~J'n)

SCA.lP (2.0"')

MIT

-

",

(12.5::)

rA.ct=:

POST CHEST

(l,O~)

t.OWER 11MB

(J9.0~)

(2J.O~)

MH CHfsr (4.0Y.)

2

HESUJ;J'S

laser" Injuries
Two hlllH.hcd l'ightt't'n p.Ilil'lIls who
\\'l'H' .... hot wilh -(:1Sl'IS M were inclu\kd.
Thl' 111\,;111 <l1~e W:IS l.R Yl'ars Ist:111t!;Htl
dl'\·j:ltiol1, 'I.H; 1;1I1~l', If) to 4HI. Ninl'·
ty-fi\'l' 1'l'l'<':l'llt werc men, All werc
shot hy I'olkt, officers. In all C:1SCl", the

guns w:;ed were tll.11l1lf<lcturt'd hy laser" Indl1slf'ic.. . lnt"flrl'oratt'd lEI 1hl'O,
(-;llilllllli'll. Nincty-nine percent of p:ltit'lll ... W('ll' hrought in hy police. Sixty
l'I'HTlIl \\"{'Il' hlOtI~ht in with no p:II;1l11edic til \'Illl'l.\!,l'I1l:Y IllCtlk;11 tl'dllli\'jall IH.., n ('(lIlt;lcL ThirtY'nine pe,fent tI',p:Hkl1fs wert' hmll~hl in hy
1',!IMnl;tirs with police in t'seort, :1l1d
I'~, \\";llknl in on their own, J'rt'Stll11-

;,hh- :~IJ.('1' ht'in,C "t:I"'net!" hy the polke

and thl'n csclpin~.
Of those hrou~ht in hy rolice, 46%
were in h:ITu rcstr:lints fie, thick leather hinders on all limhs with key·
locksJ. lwcnt y pt'rn'nl Wl'rt' shot hecause thl'y exhihitcd violcnt heh;1Villr
hut were no lon~cr restrained, :lud 7'X,
were in custody for criminal offenses
and werc handcuffed. S('venty-~ix percent of

all patients were "taserel!" for

hizaln~ and uncontrol1:1hle hch:lVior

junuslI:11 hut not nccessarily dirccled
violenceli 4f1'Y" for hiz:lfre :!ntl extrcnll'ly cOlnhativt, Il\'h:lvilll jwifh tli·
rected violencel; :1nd S'X", for hizane
and 1I1lcontrollalJle h(:havillr with

nudism),' f'Jahle II, Sixty'ei~hl 1''''cent of patients were put on a 71-hour
psychi:ltric hold; h:11f (If them \\'I'rc

rs

7"'

'urt:

SECTION II: p. 3

\

.... GUUE 3.

'1f.I~ef.:d l't1liclJl (/I~P()­

~;I;lJlJ. Ilullle, disdltlfgt.:d home hom
llIC ellh1/,~CIJC)' tlCl'iUlI111:ut a;lel tl\'Cl'

MEDICAL (14.9'1)

dge ~ld}' u; ~ix 1l()1Il.~; IJ~)·(·Il. Ib)'chi·
dltic utlmi~.\wu, W.IWJl)',V" u 72·11011'

, im'o!uutdry hold; M.:dil.:;JJ. cIt/milled

Ju the mc.IJ("J ~en'j(c (Ii llw IW':Ipittl}
fOI {luther l1ctltm..:lll; jIJi}. rd":iJ')..:d to
police CU:SICJl/)' ,,;tel' lI..:,U went in the
cmergency ,l,,:ptutmelll; dl1(/ CO(()JJcr.
,,/llwliew:) who ,Ii..:d l'ct:t:i\'c(/ dUWp,
sics l)y the l.o!') Angdc:s Coullty CoruIla's Ofiit'e to delam;llc cause o{
'/Ctlth.

JAIL (5.9'1)

HOME (46.0"')

FIGURE 4. Office,
PSYCH (29.7'1)

III

I'llse tll fi,e

1l,!,)C'·.
r'lll~e ot IOtI!70 lU 160/ toO. The 'lVera~c

CORONER (1.5"')

3
idence of recent cocaine usc. a five
percent of patiellls hal! a psychiatric
disorder unrelatel! to I!rug use alll! hal!
negative drug screens (Figure 11.
Associated Diseases
Fifteen percent of patients had pre·
existing diseases, including psychiatric disorder, sickle cell trait. mitral
valve prolapse, cardiac arrhythmia.
and sick sinus syndrome. The one patient with a previous history of cardiac disease had mitral valve prolapse,
cardiac arrhythmia, and sick sinus
syndrome.
Thirty-eight percelll of patiellls hal!
associated injuries, usually associated
with the violent behavior fWIll I'CI'
intoxication. These injuries included
multiple abrasions in 4~ patiellls. stab
wounds in 11 patients, amI multiple
lacerations Inot due to knivesl in
seven patients. There were no hone

fractures.

4
laler n:lc<.l~ed from the emergency dc·
pallment to go homc.
Tuxiculogy
Eighty·six percent of patients had a
I tory of recent jsame oayl PCP
~sei 70% had positive levels of
PCP j 64% had signs of PCP imoxica·
llllll; ami 4~% hal! bUlh vertical anI!
h~lrizontal nystagmus jstrong evidence
ol PCP ahuscl.l·>1 TWenty-six percent
of patients had positive ethanol levels,
<

.1I1t1 4'Y., hau

<.I

hislory .mu physic'll

tV·

Darts
The number of dans firel! by the pulice officers ranged from two to lour,
with a mean of 2.6 ISI1, I..l1 per patiellI. The number of dans present in
Ihe patients' skin 011 admission to the
emergency dcpanmcIIl rall~ed from
onc to four, whh OJ mean uf 2.3 (SD,
G.Y31 per patient. The anawmkal distribution of the embel!del! ,Ians is
shown IFigure 21.
Vital Signs>
The average bluod prcssure uf II ta ·
sered" patients' fJll admh;sion lO the
ED was I:utlBO ISD. 151161. wilh a
& ....... 1.......

e __•

..... _ .... _. __

pube rate \\'J~ Y6Imin lSD, 211,
wilh a r,an~c of xu to 160. A~idc tWill
the three "useretl" p;llicnt~ wilh
asyswle, no mhe!" c'lhh,H.: <Iuhythmi.ls
were repuned.
Othcr Trcatment
Electrocardiography was perJormed
on 3H U/u of patients. All were normal
for rhythm, except the chrcc patients
who had asyswle. forly-five perccnt of
patients rClIuireJ tetanus prophylaxis.
All dans were removed hy incising tlie
skin at lhe ·base uf the shaft with a
# II sl:alpcl blade. No suturing was required.
Complications
The Olouality rate Jssociatcd with·
Taser· usc WolS 1.4·}~. All three of
these patients olrrivetf at the ED in
asystole. "laser'" darb were emhedded
in the anterior thigh, hUllOCks, and
back in these patients. All three hal!
high levels uf PCP in bUlh serum
10.156 to 0.43 I'g/mll .ml! liver (0.44 to
0.76 I'g/mll. One hal! a previuus cardiac his(ury. including c.:ardiac arrhythmias Isick sinus ~yndrol1lc wilh
mitral valve prolapse', and \VdS 011 diguxin. All three patients went into
cardiac .nIesl aller being "tascrcd."
Two jlJlicnt:s with no previous history
went into cardiac anest 5 .md 15 minutes aha being "taserell," .. Ild the
third wclll illlil le~pjr.llt1ry ane~C fulluwed by l:ardi .., .tI'le:,t 2S IUlJlute~
&lEter hdll~ "tasered." None rc:,pomled
10 AClS resuscit..tiunJ The l:omncr's
repun tor e.. ch uf Ihe tillce p.illicnts
stJlcd th.ilt death WJ~ due lu phcucyclidinc IUxidty, with 110 M~IIS ol
mYUl.:ardial dJmage, .Iinvay uhstl'lll:tiun, or uthcl' path(llo~y.
l1liny·dght pCU.:clll ut patients had

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _• •
77.
5

'.7.'.;;! mp? 7[

• •

tWW'l'_.i...

'tI' it:

_

SECTION II: p. 4

lASER' INJlIfllFS
Ordog el HI

FIGlIIH~

;mm T

5. 1J;l1g'IUfI of ·,i,\cr ....

ilssnd;lll'd inilllit''' lelart.'(1 til their vio)cnt hl'h;wiot :Iud 110t to lise of tilt.'
l:'sl'r". Eightet'll of the !';nil'nls n'·
lIUirc..·d suturing of \\'Olllllis ;lIh.) 1.,% of '
nil 1'1ilit'IlIS
:ulmitll'd 10 the Imsflit:I' fOI jl1illrit'~ !"lI~I:,il1t:d dIU' 10 tltdr
Vililcilt Ill'ha\'iflr, primarily I'll'cxi:'itin~

i

"'t'''''

t HANon

2. Et[CTAIC RELEASE BAR
(lell .nd RighI)

!'tnh wounds, The :llhniu<>d patients
spent an aVl'r;I~(" of two days in the
h",pi,aL
Mild rhahd"my"ly,i, .nd my"·
Jtlohil1uria o(,Tunl'd in 1% (l't p:uient,;
and rt'lluin'll hospital trc..'afl11l'nt. No

renal complications Wl'rc

Sl'cn.

Whether the hll'akllown of muscle ell'·
curred duc to PCP aO\ls(",·\ or to the
tct;lnic contractions ilssociatcd with
the l:'ser lt could not he determined,
hut each of tlll'~c pi1ticnt~ h:lll positive
levels of rCI! One p:nient developed a
te~ticular torsion immediately after
hcin~ "t:lsl'red." He denied prt'existin,:;
scrot;,1 p.l1n or SWt'lIin~, hut it eoulll
not he dctl'rmim'll Whl'tht'f the tor·
sion W:l~ a result (If the Ta~erll wound.
This patient W,1S "tasercd" fOf criminal activity and not for psychiatric or
dml(·rdated hell. vim, Hi' PCP ,creen
was nl'~ntivc.
Ollt' patient statt·f.1 that he hecame
sterile after Ill'in~ "tasered" in the
scrotum. Wfu.·thcr thc sterility W;Hi
preexistin~ could not hc llt-rcrminclt
n:.hlc 11.

3 SAFElY
.. MCHARG[ lNOICATOO
~

:~~ 5 BATTER\' CHARGE PLUG
6 FlASHLIGHT SWIlCH

CONTACTS

f

1 flASHLIGHT
8. CASSfTTE CHAMBERS

5

i
TABLE I. Reason for patients being "tasered"
Reason
Bizarre and uncontrollable behavior
Bizarre and extremely combative behavior
Criminal aclivity, not inloxlcaled
Clinical Correlation
Phencyclidine abuse - by history or drug screen
Ethanol intoxication - by history and serum tevels
Cocaine intoxication

,\

,

% of Patients

•

76
40
7

86

26
4

TARLE 2. Complication., of 7aser'" use

lJispositio"

i

""1:1st'rcd" patients spent :111 avera~e
of (,,5 hours lSD, 4,,11 in till' ED, The
disf\lJsition of patknt~ aftl'r treatment
in thl' ED j~ shown fFi~1I1l' JJ. Sixty·
two pefcrnt of p:ltients h;lll :l psychi·
atric l"':llu:U;OIl while in tht· ED. Half
of thl'SC l(,(i patients1 well' illlrnittl'd to
the hospit:ll psychi;nric unit on a 72hour illvohmt:uy hoht. These p:ltil..'nts
srent :111 :1'..... r<1l-:l· of (our tI,1yS in the
fildJity hefon' hciT1~ rclc;1<::ed. Ahnost
half (If illl p:1til'nts \\"t'r(' Illcitl en(JlI~h
to hl' disch;ll~t·tl.

,I

Other Ohsef\'alinns

,
I

"

I

A lucid intet":l1 W;lS fl.'POI (l·d hy the
police in ""~, of patient .... \"hile the
prcvinus)y psydwtk p;lIit'lIts h"tI {'Ufn'nt flowing fhrcmgh their hodies,
they lll'l':1tt'ntly hl'l';II11l' hKid I1mf urientet!. nnly ttl IMer I .... ,'t·,t to disori·
l'nt('d <1Illl vioh'nt heh;1Viof "J hi~ W;1S
strictly a lay oh"'ef\'ation anti W;l~ not
l"onfhl11etl hy TIll'tHell or ps)'t'hil1tric
Jll·fS(11l1ll·1. Nil1l'ty-tWll pl',n"'t of ra·

Complication
Contusions,' abrasions, lacerations (probably preexistent
and related to phencyclidine abuse)
Mild rhabdomyolysis (probably relaled 10 phencyclidineinduced hyperactivity)
Testicular torsion
Sierilily in men (not proven)
Mortalily

• s'alcd th.t ,he had total amf r
H.~ eve
i n't re·
ml'l11 r lell1~ Htasered, n,
Wuuud C.re
\\'o\ll1d t'arc follow up W;Hi very
poor. Nonr tt'turned for wnuml cht'ck
clinic :tprointmcnts. All patients were
tcl,'pl",,,e" 1m lolluw up, hut only
),';~~ el\,.ld he re.ched, The 48% of pa·
ti,nts who were admitted to either the
I11clHcal or flSychi:ltric hospital were
w<1tfhtlll'l an a"cra~ of four days and

% of Patients
38
1
0,5
0,5
1,5

hatt no wound infections. The 2· to 4mm wnunds were not fo;utured, hut
were cleaned with Retadine It :"olmion
.nd dre"ed. All he.led sati,f.c'orily,

...lienls Shot With .3R Speci.ls
Datil were collected on 22 patit-nts
hmtl~ht hy parAmedics for tn':ttmcnt
.fter heinK shul hy p"lice wilh ,.18
Spccial h."dKuns, Thc me.n 'KC 01
,hese patien" w.s J8 years Ira"Ke, 14
to .181 .nd .11 were men, The .veraKe
numhc. ul hullet wound, was LI

I

SECTION II: p. 5

I

I .

I
HGlJlU: 7. "J'J-SI..'(II tlL1Jl .'iIitJ\\'llIg ii.,hIW(JR. -like huh III elld ,,/ ~·h.Jft.
may be lIsed when a klhal 'on.:c, sw.:h
, as th.1t fWIIl OJ ..iN SpL.'ciJI haIlJ~t1I1, is
·nm justifiahle and whcli l:onvcllIiollJI
tactics oi YCI'h~llizati(lIl, :.ch·dl.'j,-'Ibc,
finn grip l:olltwl, Jnd othcn:i do not
suhdue the bllbJlecl. The 'Ia:.er h temporarily immobilize:. hy using clcl:uic.:ity Jt SO,(XN) yuhs 10.M juuk's JWJll1
sCl:onJ:.II.-t This del:uiL:ity is pub,-'d ill
a r.lIe of 10 ItJ IS impubl,.·:' pel' sCL:onJ
and is suilidcllI to l:Jlbe tetank l:ontraction oj the budy's mll.:tt.:lcs. Thus
the ~uspct.:t is il1volul1IJlily pal'.II)'zed
as long as Ihe current jh)\\,s, Whcn the
Taser ~ release har is JepresseJ, two
darts arc Ilwpclled from the gun over a
rang~ uf hum two ItJ 15 leel jrigures
4-61.~ The J.lrtS IFigure 71 pull two fine
cundul:ting wires from a L:J:.scUI,.·. The
dans l:<ln alt.ll:h either 10 lhe susP""l:I'S
clothing ur 10 Ihe skin. The L:lInent
will dfectivdy pass Ihrough two
inches oi clothing and need not penctrate the skin hlr inl1110hilizatiun:t A
person Whl) is "tascred" is immobilized with just twu to three se..:onds
of applied I~)wec. 4 Th",' power may he
repeated as required tu maintain immobilizaliull. Continwlus appliGlti(m
of cuncnt is nm aJvis""d, for it cuuld
result in respiratory arrest. T.lsers'"
have been shown til he efiective in immobilizing suspects H2% III the
time. 4 ,!lI Recovery frum being shot
with a Tascr~ repullc,Uy is rapid. 4

Medical Trealmeltl
Irange I to 521. 1\venty·five percent of
the patients had physical or laboratory
evidence of recent usc of PCI~ ethanol,
ur cOl..:ainc. The mortality ratc was
50'1..; dIe I J patients who survived suiklcd pcnnancnt morbidity, im.:. luliing
pJrJly~is, brain d.tmagc , and loss of
limb. The operative rate was 82%,
which induJcd ED thoracotomy
whcli the patient Mrivcd in cxtrcmi.').
AVL'rage IlOspitalization for those paticnts who survived \Vas 41 Jays
/r;lIlge, 12 til 1601.

cant difference IP < .01) belween Ihe
mortality rates of "tasercd" patients
11.4%1 and those shot by pulice wilh a
.3M Special handgun whu received
treatment at the hospital jSttYt,j. Although the two groups 19unshot
wound and "teasered" victimsl au: not
equivalent, it would be impossihle h)
establish a true comparison ~roliP in
(cnns ot Im;alioll of injury, IHlIlllll..'l' of
injuries, and reason for llh:..:h.mil:.&1

immobilization.

DISCUSSION

( LlIIl,arison of Victims
,

Then: \\las a st.uislil:ally significant
dilkrellcc (I' " .(111 between the PCl'
Illallent morbidity rates of "tascrcJ"
pat kilts 10'1." .U1J 11105c shot hy polkc
wllh a .. IX Special halHlgnn (50%1.

Tlu:rc was also .1 btatisth.:ally signifiIf, I

,J.JIUldIV

IllHI

The Tascr'" is lIscd by pulice w minimize the 31110lUU of forl'c m:ccss.lry

to nmtrol violent' suspects" lpcrsollill
communicaliol1s wilh Sgt Jilll Kcll)·
and Sgt Jllck SchmiJa, l.os Angeles Pulice J)cpartmcllt~l\:rsonncl illlJ l1Jiniug Ilureau.tieplemher 10, HiXol. They

The Tas~r 1\ was designed as a nunlethal control device. Bel:ausc the victim usually falls when paralyzed,
many need medical treatment for
minor trauma, MOM arc seen in the
emcrgency llepanmeHl jor removal of
lite dans fwm Ihe skm. ~ Th~ major
problems h:l.luirillg 1I1""diL:JI tlC.llment
appcar to he hOIll precxistillg iuimics
and toxic conditions that Jl:Cu,Jlly led
to thc palil..'1lI hell1~ "t;I~c.-eJ." This
was usu.III)' due to the toxic psydJUsis
of PCP ami h) injUries slblallleJ iHlm

the violent hehavlur a~stJdJ'nl with
it. Ahhou~h the huspu.11 adlllisMon
rate \,,'iIS high tollowing Taser II
wounds t~W;;d, IIlIly ulle paticnt cc\llIil'ed JJlIlIssiun ht.'t.:.Jusc ui il ,lileL:(
illjUI')' ,luI,.' to the las~lh. All uthel patients r~'luired aJUII:.slon lor pn:cxisting (()XII.: psydlOses, psychiatril: disorders, and injuries .bs(J(ialcJ with

I

T
I/lS~W IN,JUlill S

Vi411l'I1t Ix,h:1\i;IU.

t:1lity nnd morhidity ratc when the
laser'" is used, Another way .of view.
illg these datn is tn say that the l:1ser1l'
, \WIg associ:ttt'd with a 1.4'X, mortality
mtt'/ and prohahly saved the 48.6% of
patients who may have otherwise
heen sl",. with .1 ,,~R Speci.11 hal1llj(uo.

Thn'l' "il1kllt!" ,,-lil'd, pmh'lhly due to
l'lIrdi:u: nrrhythl11i;, in il prl'l'xistil1,l: irritahlt· hemt.!,' 1\11 tlm.'t' r:1til'nt!'i who
(Iit'd :"lI!i'tl1incd toxic 1l'\"t'I~ of PCI~ OIlC

had iI history of c:mlirlC lli-scasc anti
c:udinc I1rrhythmi;lS, :lI1d :111 died scv.
crill l11inutl's :1ftl'r hcin.l: "tascrcll."

:11l'l· showed

;1-

The nt1thm~ thank Sgt Jack Schmida and
S~tlim Kelly of .he los Angele. Police
Department fur information and reference
sourn'~ nn the laser'll; Los Angeles Police
Department Chief Darryl Gates for his
rdt'rl'nCl' on the rolice usc of the Tascr'Jr;
OHiccr Rilly Holland for posing fbr photo~r41rhs and lise of his Taser· for this
Mudy, and Cindy Ordog for editing and
typinJ: the manuscript.

0.1%

mortality o\'rmll, with a 1% mortality
rate 11/106 r.1.il'lllS! for severely inrox.
lciltt.'d p:nil-nls (which our ~rnllp repn'senft'tll, and ;1 S'X, mortality {l/20 pl1tit'nlsl for sl'vl'rt'ly COf11:1tosc "Atit'nts.
Otlll'r potential inillfit,s not St'cn in

,!•
,
I

"I
••

::
;i

this clinical study included penetration of maior hlmlll VCSSt'!s,., mpturc
of thl' ~Iohe, t; inlCrff,.'rcncc with a cnr.
dial' pact'm:lker," dl'ctricallr induced
nt'urolo~kal ami renal injury,"" D myo.
cardial infarction, u, 1,1 cardiac arrhyth.
mi as, I" lind fr:lI.:t lift'S."

The incidcl1tT ()f rhahdOlllyolysis
II'.~;,) W:IS consistt'nt \vith, if not lower
Ih:1l1/ that in the litt'r:1turc lr:1I1ge, 0.2
to 11'~:",1"uc,J(,.17

I:
,

~!./I

CONCLUSION
When coml':m:d to police shootings
with h;1fulguns to iml1lnhili:c people
with \'ioll'Ill hl'll.1Viol', tht're is a
l11:Hkt'd nnd st:lIistic.11Iy 1(1\\'l'r 11101'-

,
"•
•

I,

,,
"

I

I'
1,," 7R

'tMt!,nt?tu.__-,

1911';,14: mY-Ill.
t,. Rntlll'nhcrJt R: Cncaitw, #:rul'rX('/ItT Akdic'fll
$en·ict'.~ 1984,1,1: 29·41.

Jtuidclim'" {lIr cardinrulmnnary rt'C;U!ilcilalinn
ICPRI find cmer~ncy cardiac care IECe). lAMA
1980 j 244:4's,1. "

my,

Thomp~on GA.

el al: Acule phencyclidine intoxicaliun:
Clinic. I paltern", compliclllinns, .nd trcalment.
Ann Erner/( Med 19ftl j 10:290.297.

,'9,; DiVcncenti Fe, Moncrief lA, "mh RA: Elcc.
Irical iniurie~: A rt.'Vicw uf "Ii cl1"e". I 1I'tlllmfJ
1969,9:497-'sU7.

10. Sulc1l1 L, Fi"Cher RI: Stmll' ItG: The..' l10lllltlll
hi5tmy nf dectrical injury, t
IY77 i 17:

487·492,

"i,,,,,,,,,

II. Dixon GF: The cv.llIation and ml1naJtI.'ntcnt
of electrical injuries. eri' Care Med 198,1, II:

.lRQR7.

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I. Zylich N: li.~t·r - evltllllttinn ltnd analYliill,
Unilt'd l\laft·~ Cnn"illloc.'r l'rlKlucl Sall'tY Cllm.
mi"l.. inl1 Mt:mmantlllln, 'eference No. !j.1tt9.';Y:
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12. Kohernick M: Electrical iniurie": I'a.
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.\. llilTtnll Cit. Stt.'rlin~ ML, V;lzari ND: rhellcrdi1lint' inlmdc:ltinn: Clinical cll.peri~ncc in
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IS, Kirclun:tir \Y, DienMI F: 15 c:trdiac munitur.
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,,' C;ltt'.. DF: the (II furce: Ta~r c1cctmnic cnn.
•1111 dl'\·il'l'. Tminil1J: IhlllNin of the Los AllJtde~
I'olin' Ikrartl11l'llt. 19R4, Volume XVI, iS5tlC 4,

16, fatd R, !)as M, PalaZZlliu M, C,'I al: MvoII:lohinuric ncutl.' rennl failure.' in phcncYclitlinc
ovenltl~e: Ref'url IIf nh~erv:tliHn"l in ei~ht C:1<:CS .
An" fnll'rJ( M"t/ 19R1J,9:S4Y.';S,l

r

I·f._

lit'ier- Weapon: A new
1·l11t".!:t',W\' mnlidl1l' rruhlt'm, AmI Enter!': M,'d
:". f<l'''l'n\'('

F.r-.l:

Thl'

I

7. "'"wril'an 'h':ut A!'lfmdatinl1: Siantbul!'l :IIul

ft McCarron MM,-Schllb:e

TIlliS I he l~ls('r ~ Ci1I1I1ot ht' hdd solely
rt'l"ronsihlc (or tlWiT dt·aths. There is
very little in the litt'raturc ahollt mortAlity rates for I'ht'ncyclidine ahusc,
(.'t

t

SECTION II: p. 6

0'<10(1 el al

hut McCarron

I'm··'!!! II? r

WscIJr 19R2;107:SS7-R.'l9.

17, Ihnn~ RS, Lerner SE, <':nrr:1d:t flA: I'hell'
cyclidine: ~tatc~ tlf acute intoxicatilln ami I.,·
ralitic!'l, \\{,~, 1 !off'" 1975;11.1:,14';.. \49.

I