THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF CONDUCTED ENERGY WEAPONS The Expert Panel on the Medical and Physiological Impacts of Conducted Energy Weapons THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF CONDUCTED ENERGY WEAPONS The Expert Panel on the Medical and Physiological Impacts of Conducted Energy Weapons ii The Health Effects of Conducted Energy Weapons THE COUNCiL OF CANADiAN ACADEmiES & THE CANADiAN ACADEmY OF HEALTH SCiENCES 180 Elgi [...] Defence and the Canadian Forces, who were very helpful in providing a tour of their research testing facilities in the The Expert Panel on the Medical and Physiological Impacts initial stages of the assessment and instrumental in providing of Conducted Energy Weapons is deeply appreciative of testing data related to their work with CEWs for use in the the opportunity to explore this important ques [...] The report review procedure was monitored on behalf of The Council and CAHS wish to thank the following individuals the Boards of the Council and CAHS and the Joint Scientific for their review of this report: Advisory Committee by Dr. [...] Along with the Panel focused on physiological changes in these factors specific to the individual and context, the response systems, including activation of the human stress response of the human body to a CEW depends on the strength, and build-up of related levels of stress hormones such as duration, and waveform of the electrical discharge, as well catecholamines; mechanical impairment of breath [...] Introduction and Charge to the Panel 3 The Council and CAHS were asked to focus on the following In contrast, the assessment would not: three questions: • provide definitive positions on the safety of CEWs (or any 1. What is the current state of scientific knowledge about particular device) or the appropriateness of their use; the medical and physiological impacts of conducted • review why and how