Originally Posted by Canada Panda

Yes it can, the protection circuit is stamped onto the cell - a shock can loosen the tab.

Also, it's a bad idea to charge mismatched cells in parallel. You could get away with it using NiMH cells, but Lithium-ion is very unforgiving due to the rapid chemical reactions that can take place and the much higher energy content versus NiMH. Drop the damaged cell off at a battery disposal unit (Home Depots here all have one) and don't attempt to repair it - if that cell shorts out inside a flashlight, you effectively have a pipe bomb.