title: Risks of non-lethal weapon use: case studies of three French victims of stinger grenades.
abstract: The development of non-lethal weapons started in the 1960s. In France, they have been used by the police for about 10 years. We relate the cases of three French women, victims of stinger grenades, non-lethal weapons recently adopted by the French law enforcement to distract and disperse crowds. The three victims presented serious injuries requiring emergency surgical care. One lost her eye. Based on these cases, we discuss the lethal character of these weapons and propose measures to be taken to prevent their dramatic consequences. Although the danger is obviously less than for firearms, stinger grenades are nonetheless potentially lethal and cause serious physical injuries.
authors.affiliation: University Clinic of Forensic Medicine, Box 217, F-38 043 Grenoble Cedex 09, France. VScolan@chu-grenoble.fr
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Scolan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Herry
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carreta
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stahl
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barret
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Romanet
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paysant
mesh_terms: D003288:Contusions / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D004867:Equipment Design; D015353:Eye Enucleation; D015807:Eye Injuries, Penetrating / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006406:Hematoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement; D009917:Orbital Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D054041:Weapons; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology