Lisa Kohler, the medical examiner of Summit County, Ohio, twice listed Taser stun-guns as a contributing factor in the deaths of area men who came out on the losing side in confrontations with police. So now the company that makes Tasers is suing her. (Phil Trexler, “Taser sues Summit medical examiner”, Akron Beacon Journal, Nov. 18). MedPundit is dubious about the suit’s merits (Nov. 18).
Taser as cause of death
Lisa Kohler, the medical examiner of Summit County, Ohio, twice listed Taser stun-guns as a contributing factor in the deaths of area men who came out on the losing side in confrontations with police. So now the company that makes Tasers is suing her. (Phil Trexler, “Taser sues Summit medical examiner”, Akron Beacon Journal, Nov. […]
3 Comments
Knife and gun makers are following this case closely. Really. This feels more like it is a message to other medical examiners that they have a legal club and are not afraid to use it.
Gun makers must be kicking themselves right now for not having thought of this strategy themselves. After all, guns don’t kill people….
Ohio does not have an anti-SLAPP law, that I know of. It has traditional civil procedure defenses, which are adequate to stop this claim. The professional medical societies and her employer, the government entity, should join the medical examiner, and fight to deter such interference with medical judgment.
If the company disagrees with her finding, let them lay out the evidence in public. Using legal expenses to silence even a mistaken doctor is a threat to free speech and to the public health.
The court is not competent to settle a medical controversy. It should sanction plaintiff and their attorneys severely.