Dziekanski's death following Taser jolts no coincidence: expert

Robert Dziekanski's death after an RCMP officer jolted him five times with a Taser stun gun was no coincidence, a physician told the Braidwood inquiry on Thursday.

Dr. G.K. Chambers, an epidemiologist based in Vancouver, rejected the suggestion put forward by a lawyer for Taser International — the firm that manufactures the electrical stun gun — at the inquiry, which is looking into the death of the Polish immigrant at Vancouver International Airport on Oct. 14, 2007.

The fatal heart arrhythmia that led to cardiac arrest was caused by Dziekanski's struggle with the RCMP, the use of the Taser, or a combination of the two, Chambers, an emergency room physician and an expert in cause of death, testified Thursday.

And, he said, the video of the event shot by a witness makes it obvious which was the more aggravating factor.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/05/14/bc-gord-chambers-braidwood-inquiry.html

That sure cleared things up. I'm sure he added at some point that previously undiagnosed Coronary Artery Disease also contributed to the death. Clear as mud.

David

guy is

1) overweight
2) working out in sweltering heat
3) dehydrated
4) out of shape
5) wearing a full sweat suit (trying to lose weight)
6) has traces of cocaine in his system
7) has a heart condition
8) and took ephedra

since he died ... it must be ephedra's fault!

That's your problem right there. Anyone who gets five rides on a Taser is getting tortured. Our department policy is three cycles and then you escalate your use of force. I suspect somebody is going to lose their job, and possibly their freedom over this one.

Dear Zofia,

This is probably as close as you will come to a genuine apology from the RCMP. Unfortunately, the long history and rich tradition of the Force manifests itself today as arrogance and defensiveness. As you may know, I am the psychologist who was associated with the RCMP for over 30 years and testified at the Braidwood Commission. I have tried several times over the last few months to put what I want to say to you, about Robert's death, in the form of a letter. I want to strike the right balance and have my remarks reflect my displeasure with the RCMP executive and not the generally well meaning and hard working members. I think I have it right this time.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090515.wmasonletter0515/BNStory/Front

Robert Dziekanski's mental state, a core issue at an inquiry into his death, got a fresh appraisal Thursday from a forensic psychiatrist who contradicted a colleague's contention the Polish immigrant was delirious when police confronted him.

Dr. Paul Janke, who deals with mentally troubled youth in custody and testifies often in court cases, said there's nothing in the video recording of Mr. Dziekanski's final moments to suggest he was anything but a very angry, overly stressed-out traveller.

“He interacts with the people around him, is responsive to his environment, responds to directions and is acting in a way that in my mind rules out delirium but certainly indicates he was in a highly stressed and agitated state,” Dr. Janke told the Braidwood Commission.

Dr. Janke's conclusions directly contradict those of Dr. Lu Shao-Hua, a psychiatrist and expert in delirium hired by homicide investigators who probed Mr. Dziekanski's October, 2007, death.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/dziekanski-did-not-suffer-from-delirium-expert-says/article1147271/