Tasers can cause death, inquiry told

Research suggests Tasers can cause cardiac arrest, two heart specialists told an inquiry in Vancouver Tuesday.

"There should be a realization that the potential for sudden death does exist," Dr. Charles Kerr, a cardiologist at St. Paul's Hospital, told the inquiry. "It should be appreciated by those people involved in programs where they are used, and policy should reflect that knowledge that sudden death could ensue."

Potential is the key, Kerr said. He stressed the need for police to consider other factors at play when use of the device is being considered.

"People can jack their heart rates up to 200 beats a minute in a tense environment, the blood pressure can go up and the intense pressure on the heart, I don't think, can be underestimated," he said.

While the Taser itself might not kill directly, Kerr said, the stress of being jolted with the weapon could.

Dr. Michael Janusz, a heart surgeon in Vancouver who also testified at the inquiry, agreed with Kerr's findings. Both doctors are calling for new policy regarding first aid and CPR for police should a suspect collapse after a Taser is used.

The Braidwood inquiry is looking into the use of the weapon following the death of Robert Dziekanski, a Polish immigrant, at Vancouver International Airport last fall.