Hubris, vast ignorance, low safety margin revealed by Taser test

Human cardiovascular effects of a new generation conducted electrical weapon.

Dr. Jeffrey Ho [this guy], et al

Abstract [LINK]

(FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING claimed: education / public safety)

OBJECTIVES: ...New Generation CEW (NGCEW) technology has been developed that uses a different circuit and multiple cartridges that can be simultaneously deployed. The objective of this study is to examine the cardiovascular effects of the NGCEW in different deployment possibilities.


METHODS: This was a prospective study of human subjects during NGCEW training courses...


RESULTS: Initially, a 1st version NGCEW (NGCEWv1) that was in the final stages of manufacturer verification was used at the training courses. It had not been publicly released. During a NGCEWv1 exposure with 2 probes, there was an apparent brief episode of cardiac capture. Testing was halted and the manufacturer was notified. The device was redesigned and the study continued when a redesigned, 2nd version (NGCEWv2) was used. The NGCEW1 was studied in 8 subjects.  ...

CONCLUSIONS: An apparent brief myocardial capture event occurred ... 

The description of the "NGCEW" sounds like the X3 (elsewhere claimed to have 40% less charge than the X26).

Cardiac capture in at least one of eight subjects, even in ideal circumstances.

MY CONCLUSIONS:

1) Obviously, those that design tasers cannot predict the results. This product was in the "final stages" of test and was being used in a "training session". The vast ignorance and hubris of Taser International are revealed.

It's fricken amateur hour in the electro-torture (sometimes to death) business.

2) And...

The safety margin of tasers is obviously vastly lower than anticipated or claimed.

With a sample size of just eight, using a newly-designed taser that presumably has a safer waveform than the X26, probably under ideal conditions, probably with perfectly-fit subjects, to have one episode of cardiac capture is obviously statistically-inconsistent with the previous claims of safety.

"15-to-1 safety margin"  ...my ass.