Use of Conducted Energy Weapons (CEW) such as the TASER includes delivery of a series of brief electrical pulses, which result in pain and muscular contractions. The pulses may be delivered via a pair of sharp metal probes fired from the device, commonly referred to as “probe mode”, or by direct contact with the front of the device,
commonly referred to as “drive stun” or “touch stun” mode.
The current human literature has not found evidence of dangerous laboratory abnormalities, physiologic changes, or immediate or delayed cardiac ischemia or
dysrhythmias after exposure to CEW electrical discharges of up to 15 seconds. Therefore the current medical literature does not support routine performance of
laboratory studies, EKGs, or prolonged Emergency Department (ED) observation or hospitalization for ongoing cardiac monitoring after CEW exposure in an otherwise
asymptomatic awake and alert patient.