Stun Gun Death Hypothesis

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

I was discussing stun gun deaths on GD the other day and came up with this idea. I posted it on the health forum and got a few responses. I decided to cross post it to here and see what you'll thought. Let me know what you think, especially if you have a medical background. I have revised it slightly after responding to some of the questions on the health forum.

One factor that may not have been considered is metabolic acidosis. Let's say a suspect who has used illegal drugs runs away from the police for a mile, then fights with a police dog. Both of which would create large amounts of lactic acid in someone who hadn't trained for such an event. The taser would then cause skeletal muscle contraction on a huge scale this contraction would surely stimulate the muscle to contract at an anaerobic rate and release that much more lactic acid into the body which might cause metabolic acidosis, which can cause or be a contributing factor in ventricular fibrillation and other types of cardiac arrest and make it more difficult to revive patients in cardiac arrest.



To the moderators, I don't know if this belongs here, but if you could leave it up for a little while, I may be able to get some traction with the forensic department at the local University and get some studies done.

David

[iverglas]

1. google: "metabolic acidosis" taser

http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=%22metabolic+acidosis%22+taser&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

I haven't reviewed the results, but there's certainly some related discussion.

Whatever the reason ... it certainly seems that the people most likely to get tasered -- agitated individuals with mental health problems or under the influence of substances -- are probably the worst risks.

We've been having some problems of this sort up here ...

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

2. Iverglas, you and I are the second hit on a google search.

I guess that's our 15 minutes of fame. Actually the first hit did have some comments similair to what I was speculating about. They were helpful. I appreciate your input. That lawn dart thing was pretty funny too.

David

[iverglas]

3. ha!

That's like the picture on the cereal box with the kid looking at the cereal box with the picture of the kid looking at the cereal box ...

(Yes, I watched Medium last night.)

Stun Gun Death Hypothesis - Democratic Underground
One factor that may not have been considered is metabolic acidosis. ...
google: "metabolic acidosis" taser, iverglas, May-06-08 01:59 PM, #1 ...
www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=118x169930 - 2 hours ago


Google picks up results from DU very fast, I've found.


Tasers in the news where I'm at right now:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080506.wbcinquiry06/BNStory/National/home

Risk of taser death low, engineer tells B.C. panel
IAN BAILEY
From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
May 6, 2008 at 4:50 AM EDT

... Mr. Reilly was the first witness in a provincial inquiry into the death of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski after he was tasered by Mounties during a confrontation in the international arrivals terminal of Vancouver International Airport last Oct. 14. Police were called after Mr. Dziekanski, 40, began acting in an erratic manner.

Saw video of that one. A horribly sad situation. For a major Cdn airport like Vancouver not to have interpreters on hand, which would very probably have resolved the situation, is shameful.

The second probe will focus more specifically on Mr. Dziekanski's situation.

"Public reaction to the events at the airport was immediate and intense. At a more general level, concern was expressed about the deployment and use of conducted energy weapons by policing bodies in British Columbia," Mr. Braidwood said in an opening statement.

"I am mandated to provide his family and the public with a complete record of the circumstances relating to his death and to make recommendations I consider necessary and appropriate."

Mr. Braidwood promised a wide-ranging review of tasers, noting that his staff are "engaged in an ambitious series of projects" looking at the legal framework for taser use, reviewing police incident reports and monitoring similar inquiries and probes elsewhere in Canada.

"We have a lot to learn and an ambitious consultation and research program," he said.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/05/05/bc-taser-inquiry-monday.html

The first phase of the inquiry, which focuses on the medical and scientific aspects of the stun gun's use, is scheduled to run until May 23 and Braidwood has until the end of June to file a report. He's already asked for an extension to October, which has not yet been granted.

The second phase of the inquiry will focus on Dziekanski, who died in the arrivals lounge of Vancouver International Airport on Oct. 14, 2007, shortly after RCMP officers used a stun gun on him. But the second phase and a coroner's inquest into Dziekanski's death have been put on hold while B.C.'s Crown prosecutor makes a decision on possible criminal charges.

You might want to keep an eye on the proceedings -- you could find updates by searching for "Thomas Braidwood", the inquiry commissioner, at google news.

Do it at google and you'll find this thread ...

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

4. Thanks.

I didn't know this had been a problem in Canada also.

David