Mission Statement - De-Spinning the Pro-Taser Propaganda

Yeah right, 'Excited Delirium' my ass...

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The primary purpose of this blog is to provide an outlet for my observations and analysis about tasers, taser "associated" deaths, and the behaviour exhibited by the management, employees and minions of Taser International. In general, everything is linked back to external sources, often via previous posts on the same topic, so that readers can fact-check to their heart's content. This blog was started in late-2007 when Canadians were enraged by the taser death of Robert Dziekanski and four others in a short three month period. The cocky attitude exhibited by the Taser International spokespuppet, and his preposterous proposal that Mr. Dziekanski coincidentally died of "excited delirium" at the time of his taser-death, led me to choose the blog name I did and provides my motivation. I have zero financial ties to this issue.



Saturday, June 27, 2009

Two possible taser death mechanisms

The 'Blood pH' taser death mechanism was proven in court [LINK]. And it's based on basic medical facts that are almost beyond dispute [LINK]. This taser death mechanism is potentially applicable to cases where the victim was worked up and perhaps tasered for long durations. It's in the news again because of the death of Brian Cardell and Kroll's letter [LINK] where he explained (unintentionally) exactly how and why the taser could have tipped Mr. Cardell over the edge [LINK] (maybe).

Meanwhile, there's also the 'cardiac effects' taser death mechanism. This one is considered by some to still be in dispute. Taser (meaning Kroll et al) think it's impossible. But those holding this warped worldview are forced to ignore the cases where healthy young people were tasered across the heart and died either immediately, or after a few minutes. The non-VF explanation that bridges the 'taser-science' (sic) knowledge gap is covered here: [LINK][LINK]

Not included in the above list-of-two is the issue of defective tasers which can lead to an unnecessary escalation in the violence and spiral into a death-by-gunfire. [LINK] [LINK] [LINK] [LINK]


UPDATE: Make it three...

Comment on [LINK] 'Critical Mass' wrote:

One factor often present during the restraining of a detainee is "positional asphyxia", at a time when the detainees need for oxygen is great.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positional_asphyxia

The reason we need an aqualung with pressurized air, to be able to breathe in as little as a depth of 2 to 3 feet under water, is that the muscles which expand the chest to allow for the intake of air, are some of the weakest muscles in our body. You can't breathe while 2 feet underwater, through a garden hose, because the weight of the water can't be overcome by the chest cavity muscles.

Imagine a long distance runner crossing the finish line of a race, immediately being placed in any restraint where his/her ability to fully expand and contract their chest cavity was reduced by a factor of 50% or greater. The result might be fatal.

When I see videos of arrestees being restrained on the ground with several law enforcement officers on their neck or their back, I'm not surprised at the number who die during "restraint".

If stun guns affect those fairly weak chest muscles, by rapidly exercising them to the point of exhaustion, it may explain why their victims often complain of not being able to breathe after being tasered.

We focus on stun guns somehow affecting the heart, while it is possible that tasers may induce "positional asphyxia" symptoms, without putting any weight on the chest. The chest muscles are simply unable to do their job due to being depleted by the taser shocks.

If you agree, you may have to add a third death mechanism ~ "Induced Positional Asphyxia", besides blood Ph and cardiac effects.

Good luck.

July 1, 2009


An excellent point.

2 comments:

Critical Mass said...

We know that the taser device essentially "exercises" muscles involuntarily and rapidly, to the point of almost instant exhaustion, although the recovery can be quite fast.

There are commercial products which use the same medical/electrical principles involved, known as "passive electric stomach muscle stimulators."

http://www.amazon.com/Slendertone-Mens-System-Toning-Belt/dp/B00112G94C/ref=sr_1_3/175-0126653-3635662?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1246188522&sr=1-3

I would not consider these devices to be dangerous, but they all have one thing in common: FDA Review and Approval!

"Product Description
SLENDERTONE®. SYSTEM-Abs from SLENDERTONE is cleared by the FDA"

Now why isn't the "World's Most Powerful Muscle Exerciser" ~ the Taser ~ FDA Approved and Reviewed?

The only look which the FDA ever conducted on "stun guns" was a "literature review" in the 1970's, before "Tasers" were even invented or marketed.

I think the FDA is grossly negligent in not requiring FDA Approval for the "taser muscle exercisers."

Excited-Delirium.com said...

Any studies showing 'safety' that were conducted previous to the X26 taser introduced in 2003 are null and void.

The taser-associated death rate shows a step-function increased perfectly coincident with the introduction of the X26.