Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Taser International Wins Lawsuit to Change Cause of Death

Posted by Soulskill on from the shock-and-law dept.

I Don't Believe in Imaginary Property writes "Taser International recently started a legal campaign against medical examiners who claimed tasers contributed to the cause of death for several people. On Friday, an Ohio judge ruled in favor of the stun gun manufacturer (free registration may be required). While they do have a number of scientific studies on which they establish their claims, it's interesting that the alternate cause of death they champion — excited delirium — appears only in police reports on the deaths of difficult or drug-addled inmates, not in medical textbooks. Of course, that may change soon — Taser is funding and promoting research on the subject. Coroner reports such as the ones in this case contributed to the UN's opinion that taser use is torture."

7 of 577 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Be careful how you create your titles, soulskil by icepick72 · · Score: 0, Troll

    You say "improperly referred to as tasers" and then use the word "taser" repeatedly to describe them...

  2. Re:Still torture by c6gunner · · Score: 0, Troll

    Right, that works. As long as you punish people who use a taser when a bullet wouldn't be merited the same as if they had shot the bullet. Which so far nobody is doing.
    Of course they're not. The very idea is ludicrous. Tasers aren't meant to replace guns - they're meant as an intermediate step between manual restraint and firearms. As such, they're MEANT to be used in circumstances where a bullet wouldn't be merited. How can you be so confused about such a basic concept?

    I would *certainly* rather be handcuffed and pushed outside rather then risk death by taser for spending too long on my question at a political speech.
    That's total flame-bait right there, but it's still semi-early and I'm hung over so what the hell. The idiot that got zapped at that speech didn't just "spend too long" on a question, he disrupted the entire event, refused to leave when ordered to do so, and then resisted arrest. Plus he was warned multiple times that he would be tased if he continued to resist. In short, he was begging to get zapped, and his request was fulfilled.
  3. Re:hysterical by OMNIpotusCOM · · Score: 1, Troll

    In US I think it takes 10 weeks or so.

    Way to be vague on details, personal experience, and facts. Next time you think up facts, don't hesitate to post them.

    Try a job where you have to wear a bullet-proof vest every day, not because of regulations, but because some crazy bastard may just up and shoot or knife you for no discernable reason. Try a job where you have to stop a husband from beating his wife and you have to come back the next day. Try a job where you are expected to risk your life because other people won't, and then you're lucky if you don't get sued for that act of vigilance. Try that, then come back and spout your ignorance.

  4. Wow... by OMNIpotusCOM · · Score: 0, Troll

    ...just... wow... just troll this now, I'm feeling feisty.

    Add that to the list of things you can't say on Slashdot without riling up the citizenry. Whodathunkit?

    Ok, so... cops are bad, RIAA is bad, Microsoft is bad, paying for software or music is bad, Bush is bad, upholding any law is bad, copyrights are bad...

    Conversely... Ron Paul is good, Apple is hip, Linux is infallible, pirating is good, Fair Use is misunderstood, and if it doesn't affect you personally it's not important, unless someone is being treated unfairly, especially criminals...then it's bad.

    Ok... I think I got it. I'm new here.

    Sorry, continue about your cop flaming. Call me the next time someone gets into a high speed chase with them and head-ons a soccer mom, then we can all be angry at the cops for causing the chase in the first place.

  5. Re:Ah, wishful thinking. How cute by c6gunner · · Score: 0, Troll

    Heh. Dude, just because you don't know about it, doesn't make it a lie, ya know?
    I'm quite aware of the incident you're referring to, thanks. It's a lie because you lied about the events. The incident had nothing to do with a library card and the suspect was NOT leaving, so that's at least two direct lies in your "summary" of the event. You also lied by omission by failing to state that he was tasered because he was resisting arrest.

    But I assume again you won't have the cognitive skills to understand the above, so never mind ;)
  6. Re:Glorified Cattle Prod by c6gunner · · Score: 0, Troll

    Cops don't tase people armed with knives. They shoot them full of holes with guns.
    Google is your friend

    As for avoiding conflict. It'll help if somebody worked out better "protocols" so that people and cops can interact nonlethally in "charged" situations, and perhaps even avoid escalating things to an arrest.
    99% of these incidences are caused by civilians acting like idiots. You can make all the "protocols" you want - it won't change thing.
  7. Re:Ah, wishful thinking. How cute by c6gunner · · Score: 0, Troll

    Dude, are you that convinced that you can change reality by just refusing to believe it?
    No, I'm pretty sure it won't work, but for some reason you keep trying. It's strange - your own sources contradict you, yet you continue to spew bullshit.

    He was already walking towards the door. How more clear does it have to be before your brain can comprehend it?
    Yes, he attempted to walk away when the police questioned him. That's a wee bit different than what you claimed earlier, now isn't it? It's also a really REALLY bad idea. Try driving away from a cop while he's asking for your licence and registration, and see what happens. It's like the retard WANTED to get arrested.

    So let's get this straight: (1) They have a glorified cattle-prod which is known to be potentially lethal to people with heart problems, or if used repeatedly. (2) He tells them he has a medical problem... so (3) They zap him again. Well, gee, that's some human empathy in action for ya.
    Damn right. Should have kept zapping the little asshole. Anyone who's seen the video knows that the prick kept resisting arrest. If he KNOWS that he has a medical condition, then he should have STOPPED STRUGGLING. Unfortunately for him, it turns out that he's just about as bright as you are. It's like someone with an allergy to bee-stings sticking his arm into a bee-hive. That probably sounds like a good idea to you too, huh?

    Exactly how is _that_ justified?
    It's not. It also has nothing to do with your original claim. In fact, the vast majority of your response has nothing to do with your original claim. You're just changing the subject because you've been caught in a lie.