Wis. Stun-Gun Study Removes Taser Official - Funded by DOJ

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http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050512/ap_on_re_us/stun_guns_study_1

MADISON, Wis. - A Wisconsin researcher has removed Taser International's medical director as an adviser to a study of the safety of stun guns after critics said his involvement with the manufacturer tainted the research.

University of Wisconsin-Madison professor John Webster had described his two-year, $500,000 study funded by the U.S. Department of Justice as the first to look at the safety of stun guns independent of Taser, the Arizona-based company that makes the weapons.

But documents uncovered this week show Robert Stratbucker, an Omaha physician who is Taser's top medical officer, is one of four consultants to the study, which will look at how pigs' hearts react to electric shocks from the devices.

Reacting to the connection on Thursday, Webster told The Associated Press: "In view of this potential conflict of interest, I can make the statement that I have not received advice or paid Stratbucker and I will not use him in the future."