Pacemaker RP. (Tazer reaction)

[Teenyinnit]

There are currently very few people in the city with a pacemaker, and the RP seems to be very inconsistent (even I've been guilty of it, sorry PD)

so I'm including some suggested rules for those who wish to engage in consistent and realistic RP to do with pacemakers.

- being tazed does not instantly mean you will have a heart attack. its is a chance of having one.

if you are tazed whilst having a pacemaker, it is a dice situation where Odd = heart attack and Even = no heart attack.

- A pacemaker requires a hospital record. if you RPly have a pacemaker there should be a hospital record/ searchable prescription.

- to initiate a pacemaker you must initially RP a heart attack in a realistic manner and have the full 1hour + rp session with the doctor to be given it, the MD should add it to your record. (unfortunately for me mine was last year and this wasn't added so I'm fixing it now) simply saying "I have a pacemaker you can't taze me" isn't acceptable. 

- being tazed after telling an LEO that you have a pacemaker is means for an IA report, and not for a forum report. Tazers and Pacemakers are IC and it is not an OOC rulebreak to taze someone with a pacemaker. just make sure you RP bodycam and leave it to the very capable IA staff to conclude the case.

- it is an IC decision how LEO factions choose to deal with pacemakers in their faction, PD may choose to hold a gun rather than a Tazer, SD may still choose to taze you. it is up to the LEO factions to release the memo about Pacemakers and deal with it ICly.

 

As the resident old person of the city, I really want to encourage some really strong RP surrounding medical pacemakers to make it more fair to LEO factions. I myself have been guilty of using the pacemaker incorrectly and I feel that these rules added on receipt of the pacemaker would be a fair, realistic and strong addition to the server.

it would also give LEOs a clear expectation of what the RP could entail so they don't feel completely powergamed.

 

[AnnoyingOne]

I think it should be fear RP to do actions which would warrant you to be tackled/tazed while having a pacemaker.

[Teenyinnit]

2 minutes ago, isBrainDed said:

I think it should be fear RP to do actions which would warrant you to be tackled/tazed while having a pacemaker.

you'd be surprised how little it takes for a tazer to be whipped out on an 89 year old in this city. i agree with you, but for Doris, there is normally a tazer out and ready

[SquirtleSquad]

-1 to start off this with

So, being in both PD and MD, here's the thing. Tasers interactivity of pacemakers have been investigated in regard to damage to the device, disruption of the arrythmia, and excess discharge of the device causing it to malfunction. With tasers emitting a high voltage at 5 seconds, it was found through a study, that it actually doesn't have a huge effect on the patient's pacemaker, and thus possibly stopping their heart, causing the device to over discharge, or cease functioning entirely. Additionally, if your character has a pacemaker, wouldn't they want to keep themself in a position to NOT be tased? Meaning wanting to comply with LEO demands of surrender. Based on the necessity of LEO not tasing a patient, you'd want to keep the wellbeing of your characters life in check. Now if there was unwarranted tasing, then sure, IA is valid, but if you continue to resist means of surrender for detainment, then in my own opinion, that'd be on you for not caring for your characters life.

 

Here's my take from PD side:

Additionally, how is LEO supposed to know a suspect has a pacemaker? How is PD expected to react when a suspect claims they have a pacemaker? Stop and verify with MD? How is PD supposed to react when a suspect is just being overly difficult and uncooperative? Unfortunately, there's a balance of realism and game mechanics, and how people can OOC react to the events and just ignore it. If you were tased, you would be incapacitated, but you wouldn't get up and keep running. Here, per server rules, you don't have to RP the effects of a taser and can end up being tased over and over again.

From MD's side:

There's no prescription for a pacemaker. You aren't "prescribed" a pacemaker. One is placed under the skin of the patient near the heart, with two wires coming from the device, and into the heart's upper chambers, delivering small electrical discharges to keep the heart in rhythm. A prescription is something that you can take to a pharmacist, or an optometrist to have medication, medical equipment, or glasses/contacts. A pacemaker does not fall under a "prescription", and thus wouldn't be available for LEO's to see and verify the validity of the individuals claims. This would require history, knowledge, and communication from MD and MD personal who have access to AMU's patient records.

Additionally, you do NOT need to just experience a "heart attack" to have a pacemaker installed. In some instances, a person experiencing a heart attack may require a pacemaker, but that is not a definitive case for it. There are other heart conditions that would require a need for a pacemaker installed. Next thing you know, everyone on the server needs a pacemaker, and no one can be tased. 

 

Sources:

TASER conducted electrical weapons and implanted pacemakers and defibrillators - PubMed (nih.gov)

Do electrical stun guns (TASER-X26) affect the functional integrity of implantable pacemakers and defibrillators? - PubMed (nih.gov)

Police Professional | TASER is safe for pacemakers

[Ranger]

At this time this is not something we will consider adding to the rules;

Quite straightforward, and with all due respect being issued out to this type of RP, it's very niche, and not widespread enough that there needs to be a server rule set in place for it.

If you would like to roleplay being of an older age and having medical complications such as having a pacemaker you may, but it is up to you to roleplay with it and stick to that roleplay and line up results of actions such as having your pacemaker malfunction as a result of being tased. 

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