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Exposures to Conducted Electrical Weapons (Including TASER ® Devices): How Many and for How Long are Acceptable?
Author(s) -
Jauchem James R.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.12672
Subject(s) - duration (music) , narrative review , multidisciplinary approach , medicine , human factors and ergonomics , poison control , injury prevention , law enforcement , suicide prevention , occupational safety and health , medical emergency , intensive care medicine , political science , pathology , law , art , literature
TASER ® conducted electrical weapons ( CEW s) are an important law‐enforcement tool. The purposes of this study are a) to review recent literature regarding potential pathophysiological responses to applications of CEW s, and other related issues and b) to evaluate whether enough data exist to determine the acceptability of longer‐duration (or repeated) exposures. This is a narrative review, using a multidisciplinary approach of analyzing reports from physiological, legal‐medical, and police‐strategy literature sources. In general, short‐duration exposures to CEW s result in limited effects. Longer‐duration or repeated exposures may be utilized with caution, although there are currently not enough data to determine the acceptability of all types of exposures. Data examined in the literature have inherent limitations. Appropriateness of specific types of CEW usage may be determined by individual police agencies, applying risk/benefit analyses unique to each organization. While more research is recommended, initial concepts of potential future long‐duration or repeated CEW applications are presented.