Probe finds one-third of people shot by Tasers need medical attention
By Donald Melanson 
posted June 19th 2008 2:38PM
posted June 19th 2008 2:38PM
While the last Taser study we came across found that the devices were safe and caused only a few trips to the hospital, a joint investigation by CBC News and the Canadian Press has now turned up some decidedly different findings, with about one-third of people shot by Tasers reportedly requiring some form of medical attention. Those numbers were drawn from the Taser-use forms that RCMP officers are required to fill out whenever they draw the device, which revealed that 910 of the 3,226 people shot between 2002 and 2007 had to go to a medical facility, and that "many more" people had minor injuries but never saw a doctor. Needless to say, we somehow suspect this won't be the last such investigation or study on the matter, especially with the lawsuits flying fast and furiously these days.[Via Digg]
So instead of police tasing criminals they should just shoot them to death or beat the shit out of them? Would you rather get shot with a gun or beaten with baton than being tased. There is no reason that police or any other security office should go hand-to-hand battle with anyone. It is easy for some office worker to be all bitch about it. But when you have to deal with these things in your everyday job im pretty sure your opinion changes.
they brought it on themselves, its not like the police walk up to ppl and shoot them with a taser for fun.... or do they?
If only the courts would remember that the alternative is the officer drawing a real firearm and that closer to 100% of those shot would "require some form of medical attention."
This is totally ridiculous!
I carry a taser on duty; I'm here to tell you its better then a firearm or any other thing. I personally have also been tased. Also; at a young age I had heart problems to wear my heart stopped; I'm fine.
1/3 needing medical attention is better then 3/3. You also need to realize that if you get mased, hit with a baton or forced to the ground. You will receive medical attention.
Some departments require a medical professional to remove the probes from our body. Sometimes they get stuck in there good; mine went into my shoulder blade and they had to yank it out. Plus people fall when hit.
Lets sum this up.
Hit with a baton: You can face fatal consequences; or broken bones. You will likely receive medical attention.
Pepper Spray: Burns like hell; Gets rid of your cold. However you'll probably need EMS to wash out your eyes.
Firearm: You will need EMS; you're going to jail. You will probably die.
Taser: Stings like hell; you lose your dignity. Possible arrest; or night in the drunk tank. Very Low chance of dieing; possible damage from falling down. Possible medical attention to remove the probes.
More then likely outcome: Get some scraps from falling; and a sore from the probes.
Personally; I'll tase someone before anything else. Some people are immune to pepper spray; if I get within 3 - 4 feet of someone its to close. They train you that 21 feet is the optimal distance between you and a criminal. But we all know that doesn't happen.
Best way: Do what law enforcement asks you; Even security will tase and pepper spray you.
here's a thought: why don't you order a suspect to lay in a prone position before cuffing them and disable/tase only if necessary?
i mean, you'd only tase someone you were planning on arresting based on some probable cause, right? right?
A guy at my college was killed by a cop who tasered him 3 months ago.
You mean like the cop tazed him and then KILLED him? Wow.
Yea, A) 100% of people who lunge at a cop are glad they got tazed rather than shot to death as they should be, and B) you have to define 'the word require' in front of medical attention.
If the only determining factor is that they opt to go to the hospital rather than right to jail, I would say the results are dubious at best.
As opposed to 100% of people who were shot with a firearm who needed medical attention. It just goes to show you, you're better off killing someone, they can't sue from the grave.
this article is totally inaccurate, the reasoning for the hospital visit was to adhere to agency policy (which is common to majority of law enforcement agencies) to bring the tased suspect to a hospital just for medical clearance and to remove the probes.
this clearance is mandatory prior to being booked into jail. this clearance is also required by all correctional facilities before being admitted and booked.
one shot stuns, two shots kill?
(and three disintegrates)
If I was a cop, and had some maniac coming at me, I'd tas him/her too. I'd much rather do that than shoot them; which will require medical attention.
However, on occasion, the police do misuse tasers. We've had a couple of incidents here in New Zealand where people died after being tassed: One person was tassed while standing in water - he died. This is a clear case of misuse, or perhaps the cop was ignorant of the fact that water+electricity = serious risk.
We had mentally ill man that went into cardiac arrest, and died, after being tassed - he came at the cop with the knife.
Seems how most people who are shot with a taser are likely the ones who refuse to see a doctor; whether it's a gun shot wound or a yearly check-up. So, any underlying problem won't be know until after they have been shot and killed. Many of the deaths can be prevented if the person wouldn't do drugs or take a perscription for a problem they have.
Probe ALSO finds THREE-thirds of people shot by Guns need medical attention
Interesting story spin. You could just as easily say "two-thirds of the people shot witn tasers don't even need medical attention; as compared to 100% of people shot with guns need medical attention".
In Florida when someone is tasered and the probes penetrate the skin, It is required that someone from the medical community remove them as it is considered surgery. Therefore almost all of the people tasered in that state require medical attention. 90% of statistics can me made to say anything....50% of the time!
It is less than lethal!
As an autistic individual though I am not too fond of the idea of tazers.
Before they were in widespread use a police officer who you were accidentally making nervous would keep their distance and try to listen and understand what your trying to say.
Now they taze you even though your not violent or armed simply because your not reacting the way they expect you to and its confusing/scaring them.
Exactly. And for an autistic person, or someone with other physical or behavioral conditions, this could mean accidental death at the hands of a twitchy (or lazy) cop who can't be bothered to talk it out first.
Like many have said it is department policy to seek medical attention after one is tased. Furthermore, most of the injuries come when the person falls to the ground or has to be fought during hand cuffing. If it were not for tasers I would have had to shoot at least 4 people in my 8 years of law enforcement. Tasers are alternative to shooting someone with a gun in certain situations. Also it equals the playing field when you are dealing with a 6' 5" maniac who would rather kill you than go back to prison.
So pfromg, what is your source for that information about police using taser so much to people that do not deserve it. Or are you just professional of police work?
No police will tase someone for no reason. Resisting arrest is serious crime and by doing so thing will get physical. Taser is safer for the officer AND for the "client".
As a security guard my "weaponry" consist of baton and handcuffs. And im sure that if i have to get physical with someone the baton will be worse for the "customer" and worse for me. Bones will most likely be broken and maybe some serious injuries.
No police or security guard will tase or use any other weapon without a warning. First the office will tell what to do, the he/she will order you to do that and then warns you that if you dont co-operate he/she will use force. Then its up to you if you want to co-operate or face the consequences.
And here´s a tip, don´t want to be tased? Don´t do crimes. Simple.
Marijuanas illegal?, oh sh*t I didn't know that. . . ok, now what was I going to say. . .
Why is Wayne Gretzsky aiming a tazer? Has hockey really become THAT violent?