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Citation |
O'Brien AJ, Thom K. Int. J. Law Psychiatry 2014; 37(4): 420-426. |
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Affiliation |
Centre for Mental Health Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Publishing) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
24656744 |
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Abstract |
The proliferation of Tasers among police forces internationally has been accompanied by concerns about injuries and health effects, and about the use of Tasers on vulnerable populations such as people with mental illness. Tasers have generated a flood of research studies, although there remain unanswered questions about some of the key issues. This paper outlines the introduction of Tasers to policing and their subsequent widespread adoption. The paper considers the role of police in mental health emergencies with a particular focus on use of Tasers. Some factors contribute to the special vulnerability of people with mental illness to the effects of Tasers. The paper also reviews research into use of Tasers and raises issues about conflict of interest in Taser research. We conclude that Tasers look set to play a significant role in policing in the future. We make suggestions for a future research programme, and suggest guidelines for publication of papers in which there may be a conflict of interest. Language: en |