End-of-life management of implanted defibrillators: Heart patients share perspectives on deactivation, donation and reuse of devices
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 - 15:26
in Health & Medicine
Each year, more than 100,000 patients in the US undergo implantation of a new ICD for heart rhythm abnormalities. Current medical guidelines advocate discussion of end-of-life care of these medical devices, including deactivation. Now, researchers say that discussions should also address post-mortem donation of ICDs for product improvement or reuse overseas as pacemakers, to help reduce global health disparities.
