Excited delirium is most often brought on by drug use, illness, head trauma or psychosis, marked by erratic actions, racing pulse, profuse sweating, disrobing, superhuman strength and imperviousness to pain, plus core body temperatures as high as 106 degrees, Randall explained to his class at the jail.

And once the body reaches a certain temperature, the organs start irreversibly shutting down. At that point, an individual will most likely die, regardless of Taser use. However, if one is used, questions arise.

"The question is can the Taser, does the Taser push people over the edge," Strote said. "Research hasn't provided a definitive answer to that."

Plus, "excited delirium" is still not accepted by some medical professionals as a legitimate medical condition.

"Medical research has a responsibility, too. It needs to start studying excited delirium," Tuttle said. "Just because it's not a billing code doesn't mean it doesn't exist. A gunshot wound is not listed as a billing code, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist."

However, medical officials aren't on scene when a Taser is used on a crazed suspect, so they can't take immediate blood samples or note behaviors indicative of excited delirium, Strote said.

An individual's medical history and drug habits also affect responses to a Taser.

In Strote's study, based on medical examiner reports, he found that 20 of his 37 male subjects who died after a Taser was used had cardiovascular disease and 12 had either significant coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathy. Twenty-nine of the 37 subjects tested positive for illegal substances.

Excited delirium, heart disease or psychosis aside, many groups are calling for more studies of the potentially lethal tool, including Taser.

"Taser technology is not risk-free," Tuttle said. "You're using these in a use-of-force situation — it's inherently dangerous. But it's a safer use-of-force alternative, especially when you compare this to a baton strike, a kick, canine bite, punch. We're getting a better alternative for police."

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