Taser Guns Can Lead To Death: Health Experts

Taser guns which are increasingly used for law informant worldwide can disturb heart rhythm and lead to sudden cardiac arrest and death, warn health experts.

The device which works by delivering a 50,000-volt shock to the suspect has been marketed as a means to subdue an individual without causing substantial injury or death. 

New study, however, shows that Taser strikes to the chest can “cause cardiac electrical capture,” which can trigger a deadly heart attack, Indiana University cardiologist Dr. Douglas Zipes wrote in the journal Circulation. 

Dr. Zipes has also reviewed data about eight healthy men, between the ages of 16 and 48, who were tasered between 2006 and 2009 and all but one lost their lives. 

Findings revealed that six of the studied cases developed severely abnormal heart rhythms after being tasered. 

“This study doesn’t say that we should abandon using Taser devices, but it does show that users should exercise caution, avoid chest shocks and monitor the person after shock to ensure there are no adverse reactions,” said Dr. Zipes. 

“Taser users need to be prepared for the possibility of inducing sudden cardiac arrest in those stunned and have adequate medical knowledge in such situations,” he added. 

Taser devices have been applied by about 16,000 law enforcement agencies across the globe. According to Amnesty International, more than 500 people have died following Taser stuns since 2001. 
The organization said in February that stricter guidelines for Taser use were “imperative”.