RED DEER, Alta - The death of an Alberta man after RCMP zapped him three times with a Taser can't be conclusively blamed on a condition called excited delirium, says a report into his death.
Jason Doan of Red Deer died while in a coma in hospital on Aug. 30, 2006, three weeks after he was subdued by Mounties for smashing vehicle windows and uttering threats.
In her fatality inquiry report released Wednesday, Judge Monica Bast says the electronic stun gun did not cause Doan, 28, to go into cardiac arrest.
Bast says the most likely cause of his heart stopping was excited delirium, which was the official cause noted on his death certificate, but lack of medical information preclude a definitive declaration.
"The cause of Doan's cardiac arrest and the manner of his death remain undeterminable," Best wrote.
"No recommendations are made in the case, since Doan's manner of death cannot conclusively be attributed to excited delirium."
In Canada, more than 20 people have died after being jolted by electronic stun guns such as Tasers.
Lorraine McLeod, Doan's aunt, said the family is pleased with the judge's findings regarding excited delirium, noting that the term is not a recognized medical condition.
However, the family is disappointed the judge failed to make any recommendations to prevent similar deaths, she said.
"We were hoping for some recommendations regarding more training for RCMP, more information about the effects of Tasers on the heart," she said.
Doan's family is suing the RCMP, Taser International and the hospital where he was treated over the circumstances of his death.
Taser International officials were not available for comment.
The report says Doan was broke, unemployed and distraught in the days before he was Tasered, and spent a night in jail when he was too drunk to stay with his sister.
Shortly after noon on Aug. 10, 2006, RCMP responded to seven calls from people reporting a man smashing windows and damaging cars.
People told police that Doan also uttered threats such as, "I'll kill you" and "Come on guys, come and get me."
When RCMP arrived, Doan hit one Mountie in the head with a stick. Three officers struggled to subdue due him.
"Doan displayed enormous strength, stamina and endurance and appeared to be impervious to all pain compliance techniques used on by police," the report says.
Then one constable warned Doan he would be zapped with a Taser if he didn't give up. The weapon was placed on Doan's back and fired three times.
After the third zap Doan stopped struggling and asked the officers to "please help me." As he was handcuffed, officers noted that Doan was turning blue and began performing CPR.
Officers called an ambulance. When paramedics arrived, they noted Doan's heart was not beating and gave him medication to revive him.
Doan was then transported to hospital where doctors noticed he was having seizures. He was admitted to intensive care where doctors later noted brain and kidney injuries.
He went into a coma and never recovered, dying on Aug. 30.
Doctors said when Doan was arrested there were no traces of drugs or alcohol in his system. It was also determined that Doan had no history of psychiatric illness or prolonged alcohol abuse.
During the inquiry Dr. Christine Hall, an emergency room doctor in Victoria, testified that people with excited delirium have an altered level of consciousness, can be incoherent and can engage in random violence and destruction.
She said they have an elevated heart rate and blood pressure, may lack a response to pain stimuli and often exhibit exceptional strength.
Hall is working on a research project on excited delirium that is being funded by the Canadian Police Research Centre.
Earlier this year, RCMP removed from its manuals the words excited delirium -- a term for unexplained deaths involving police that has been panned by medical associations and civil libertarians.
Officers had previously been instructed that Tasers are a good way to subdue suspects who are highly agitated so they can be given medical treatment.
