“A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of the family, including the 7 month old son, of 24 year old Gregory Towns, who died after being tased 13 times in 29 minutes. Two officers repeatedly shocked this man’s body for a total of 47 seconds… while unarmed and handcuffed.”

“Police found Towns sitting down and out of breath after a short foot chase. He asked officers at least ten times to be allowed to rest before going with them, according to AJC. The cops then decided to use their weapons as a cattle prod to force the weak man to walk, instead of just letting him catch his breath.”

“While we often ask “why didn’t that cop use a taser instead of his gun?”, it is important to remember that while a person is less likely to die from a taser shock than a gun shot, they are still a weapon, and still often unnecessary and lethal.”

Read more at http://thefreethoughtproject.com/man-dies-taser-13-times-cattle-prod/#Qk5v1TKX1JTpDtdM.99

Using tasers to hasten the arrest process for injured citizens who have difficulty breathing has no place in American medicine. I doubt the manufacturer of tasers would make such recommendations to any law enforcement official. There are no medical indications for tasers.

Someone who is having difficulty breathing needs an ambulance. Any fool knows that.

This is wrongful death due to the off-label use of tasers. The police did not act in accordance with standard practice or protocols for tasers.

“ Personnel should consider that exposure to the ECW [Taser]  for longer than 15 seconds (whether due to multiple applications or continuous cycling) may increase the risk of death or serious injury.”  (3)  

Police are not allowed to make medical decisions, yet they are (with uniformly poor outcomes) increasing fatalities and disability cases.

Systemic violence within law enforcement serves to compound the burgeoning unlawful, unethical, and inhumane actions that lead to physical and mental disorders. When a disorder is exploited by law enforcement for profit or abuse, it can only be described as an act of terrorism.

A public health emergency exists for people with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and Asperger syndrome. People with mental and developmental disorders may not understand commands screamed at them by an irate officer pointing a gun, and the wrong reaction could be fatal.

The medical community cannot stand by and watch patients slaughtered, knowing that they are at very high risk for police violence and its associated morbidity and mortality.

Related Stories:

1.  Aspergers Teens and Driving a Car

http://www.myaspergerschild.com/2011/07/aspergers-teens-and-driving-car.html

2.  How should police handle people with autism?

http://autism.voirici.net/?p=375

3.  TASER guidelines updated for first time since 2005

 http://www.policeone.com/police-products/less-lethal/TASER/articles/3590368-TASER-guidelines-updated-for-first-time-since-2005/