TASERs Absolved of Blame

Taser International, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, has cause to celebrate because of a recent ruling by an Ohio judge. The order required that Taser’s name be removed from three Summit County Medical Examiner autopsy reports stating that the weapon contributed in some way to the deaths of three men.

Taser is stepping up lobbying efforts and lawsuits in an effort to prevent or reverse conclusions that Tasers contributed in some way to someone’s death. Company spokesman Steve Tuttle stated that medical examiners on both county and state levels are now being held responsible and accountable for statements the company views as untrue.

The National Association of Medical Examiners’ president, Jeff Jentzen, objected saying that he does not believe people should be sued for issuing medical opinions.

Nevertheless, the Ohio judge stated that the county “offered no medical, scientific or electrical evidence to justify finding the stun gun was a factor in the deaths of two men in 2005 and another in 2006.” Both Taser and the City of Akron asserted that the medical examiners in question did not have “the proper training to evaluate Tasers.”

There are five Summit County criminal cases pending against sheriff’s deputies. Whereas the original order stated that the jailed inmate’s cause of death was “homicide,” implicating Taser, the judge hearing the case ordered that the cause of death be changed to “undetermined.”

Taser International continues to win legal victories and only rarely pays settlements in the few cases regarding injuries to police officers. According to company sources, in excess of 60 cases have been dismissed, an impressive number given that Taser stun guns are used by more than 12,000 different police agencies. In addition, both individual police officers and many agencies give full credit to the stun gun for preventing injuries and deaths to officers and suspects.

According to Taser, its guns have not caused either serious injury or death. The company has conducted both company-funded and independent studies to determine the safety of their stun gun products. Taster International maintains that medical examiners are not qualified to evaluate whether the Taser stun gun was actually a cause of death. Doctors and medical examiners supported by the company often present opposing testimony in such cases.

Tuttle stated, “The qualifications of a medical examiner depend on their professional and educational background as well as their level of understanding of Taser technology and the underlying effects of electricity upon the human body.”

Although in excess of 300 people have died in North America after police officers have administered Taser shocks, minimal possible linkage to the stun gun has been substantiated in the vast majority of cases. In only 10% of the cases could any case be made for a possible connection between Tasers and caused of death.

Since Taser International has provided mountains of medical research backing up their non-lethal ratings, the Taser stun guns remains the non-lethal weapon of choice.