Balancing Safety and Ethics: The TASER Consideration in Healthcare: A Systematic Review
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Abstract
Background: Workplace violence is a growing concern in healthcare, especially in emergency departments and psychiatric settings. To address this, some institutions have turned to Conducted Electrical Weapons (CEWs), commonly known as TASERs, as a means of protecting staff and managing aggressive patients. While these devices can help in high-risk situations, their use also raises important ethical, legal, and health-related concerns. This review explores how TASERs are used in healthcare settings, and examines the safety implications, ethical challenges, and existing regulations. Methods: We conducted a systematic search across databases including PubMed (209), and Google Scholar (15826) for peer-reviewed literature on TASER use in healthcare, on date 11/04/2025. Search terms included “TASER” AND “healthcare”, “TASER” AND “hospital, “emergency department” AND “TASER” and “TASER” AND “ethics.” Studies were selected based on relevance to TASER use in healthcare environments. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Results: A total of 37 studies were included in this review. Most reports focused on emergency or psychiatric settings where patients displayed violent or unpredictable behavior. TASERs were generally used as a last resort when verbal de-escalation and physical restraint failed. Health effects ranged from temporary discomfort to more serious outcomes such as arrhythmias or injuries from falls. Ethical concerns included lack of consent, use on vulnerable individuals, and insufficient staff training. Legal guidance varied significantly across regions, with many institutions lacking clear policies on CEW deployment. Conclusion: TASERs may offer a measure of protection for healthcare workers in dangerous situations, but their use must be carefully weighed against the potential for harm and ethical dilemmas. Clear, standardized guidelines and thorough training programs are essential to ensure that their use is both safe and justified. More research is needed to assess long-term impacts and support informed policy-making.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Richa Choudhary, Rajat Maurya, Pradeep Kumar Yadav, Krishna Kumar Singh, Madhulika Shukla, Vivek Pathak, Satendra Mohan, Dileep Kumar Yadav
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