Defibrillator Death Guide

Although rare, deaths can occur if an ICD fails to work when needed.

For patients with an who are terminally ill or nearing natural death, the device can become a burden rather than a benefit. defibrillator death

When a person suffers a cardiac arrest in public, the use of an is critical to survival. Although rare, deaths can occur if an ICD

Defibrillators (both external AEDs and internal ICDs) are life-saving tools designed to prevent sudden cardiac death (SCD) by restoring a normal heart rhythm through an electric shock. While they do not directly cause death, "defibrillator death" usually refers to situations where the device is deactivated during end-of-life care, fails due to technical issues, or is unable to stop a terminal cardiac event. End-of-Life & Deactivation Defibrillators (both external AEDs and internal ICDs) are

Sudden death in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator recipients

: Some argue that defibrillators can take away the possibility of a "quick and painless" sudden death, instead prolonging a difficult dying process from other non-cardiac causes. Effectiveness of Emergency Defibrillation (AEDs)

: Some deaths have occurred because a device was accidentally turned off, such as during a surgical procedure, and not reactivated.