Taser subjects: Identification of high-risk individuals

Taser® devices are used by many police forces as a nonlethal means of subduing individuals. These devices use conducted electrical energy to cause neuromuscular incapacitation. Tasers have been associated with adverse clinical outcomes and death, and their use remains controversial. Current national level policing policies exhibit heterogeneity with respect to the clinical disposition of individuals subjected to Tasers. Critical review of the published medical literature concerning the human effects of Tasers suggests the delineation of certain groups potentially more vulnerable to adverse medical outcome and injurious clinical sequela. Policy changes mandating that these “high-risk” groups receive clinical evaluation post-incident may increase public safety with respect to Tasers.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Public Health

Level thesis:degree_level

Master

Grantor

The University of Texas Medical Branch

Year dc:date.issued

2008

Author dc:creator

• Steven John Gaydos

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Laura Rudkin, Ph.D.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Kjell Lindgren, M.D., M.P.H.
• Alvah Cass, M.D., S.M.
• A. Nelson Avery, M.D.

• taser
• nonlethal force
• neuromuscular incapacitating device
• conducted energy weapon

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © is held by the author. Presentation of this material on the TDL web site by The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston was made possible under a limited license grant from the author who has retained all copyrights in the works.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Dc Identifier Other

etd-05052008-101402

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:utmb-ir.tdl.org:2152.3/109