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Tasers and psychiatry: some thoughts and observations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 May 2012

John D. Little ,
Ian Hogbin  and
Michaela Burt
John D. Little*
Affiliation:
Bowman Low Secure Unit, Cornwall Partnership Foundation Trust, Bodmin, Cornwall, UK
Ian Hogbin
Affiliation:
Bowman Low Secure Unit, Cornwall Partnership Foundation Trust, Bodmin, Cornwall, UK
Michaela Burt
Affiliation:
Bowman Low Secure Unit, Cornwall Partnership Foundation Trust, Bodmin, Cornwall, UK
*
Correspondence to: Dr John D. Little, Bowman Unit, Cornwall Partnership Foundation Trust, Bodmin, Cornwall, UK. E-mail: john.little@ccdhb.org.nz
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Abstract

Tasers are tools of law enforcement. With their increasing use, Tasers may also be deployed on those occasions where the person is both threatening and mentally ill. This article considers various ethical propositions and describes the ability of psychiatry to minimise the use of physical interventions.

Keywords

Taserpsychiatrylow secure unit
Type
Review Article
Information
Journal of Psychiatric Intensive Care , Volume 9 , Issue 1 , April 2013 , pp. 49 - 55
Copyright
Copyright © NAPICU 2012

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