Taser use in restraint-related deaths

Area of Science:

• Forensic Pathology
• Emergency Medicine
• Law Enforcement Studies

Background:

• Taser (conducted energy weapon) use has risen nationwide.
• Emergency medical services (EMS) increasingly encounter patients subjected to Taser application.
• Autopsy reports of Taser-related deaths are crucial for identifying high-risk interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine autopsy reports of individuals who died after Taser application.
• To identify potential risk factors and interactions associated with Taser-related fatalities.
• To contribute to the understanding of Taser use in critical incidents.

Main Methods:

• Case series analysis of Taser-related deaths over a four-year period (starting 2001).
• Identification of fatalities via internet search and subsequent request for autopsy reports.
• Analysis of demographic data, cardiac disease, toxicology, excited delirium, restraint techniques, and cause of death.

Main Results:

• 37 autopsy reports were reviewed out of 75 identified cases.
• All cases involved males aged 18-50; 54.1% had pre-existing cardiovascular disease.
• 78.4% tested positive for illegal substances (86.2% stimulants); 75.7% diagnosed with excited delirium.
• Taser use was a potential or contributory cause of death in 27% of cases.

Conclusions:

• This is the largest review of Taser-related fatalities in the medical literature.
• Findings align with prior research, indicating frequent associations with restraint and excited delirium.
• Highlights the importance of considering these factors in Taser-related death investigations.