Open AccessElectrical injury from tasering and miscarriage
Author(s) -
Mehl Lewis E.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016349209007967
Subject(s) - medicine , medical emergency , poison control , abortion , rifle , curettage , uterine rupture , asphyxia , surgery , pregnancy , obstetrics , history , archaeology , uterus , biology , genetics
A case report is presented of a woman who was “Tasered”® by law enforcement personnel while 12 weeks pregnant. The Taser® (Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle) is an electronic immobilization and defense weapon that has been commercially available since 1974. The Taser® was developed as an alternative to the 38 special handgun. The patient was hit with Taser® probes in the abdomen and the leg. She began to spontaneously miscarry 7 days later and received a dilatation and curettage procedure 14 days later for incomplete abortion. The world's literature on electrical and lightning injury to pregnant women is reviewed, and the mechanism of action of Taser® injury is discussed. As use of the Taser® becomes more common, obstetrical clinicians may encounter complications from the Taser® more often