Feature: Risk of Death from Conducted Energy Devices

An expert panel of medical professionals found no decisive evidence of a high risk of death or serious injury from the direct effects of Tasers and other Conducted Energy Devices (CEDs).

The panel’s interim report said the risk of a death or serious injury is low when police use CEDs against healthy adults. Certain groups of people may be at much higher risk of injury or death from CEDs. These groups include children, the elderly, pregnant women and people who have heart disease. Police officers should avoid the use of CEDs against these populations unless the situation excludes other choices.

The Justice Department is aware of more than 300 cases of Americans dying after CEDs were used against them. Some were normal, healthy adults. Others had medical conditions such as heart disease, mental illness or chemical dependencies.

Review a summary and background information related to the report.
Read the full interim report, Deaths Following Electro-Muscular Disruption (pdf, 21 pages).

The panel expects to release a final report in 2009.

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