Death

I know this may be a morbid question but what does my family do with my unit when I pass away which may be soon. The device says "Property of Medtronic" but can this almost new device be given to someone else with a Pacemaker ? Must it be a Medtronic Pacemaker ? I am not talking about ANY exchange of money-only making life with a PM a little easier to handle for someone who finds it difficult to get out to appointments in Midwest Winters. Using this device gives the user freedom-. ie less Dr. visits in person. I know others can get the Phone In Monitor Device --but seems like a waste. Of course the Dr, would know. Can something like this be done. Just wondering what to tell the family.

4 Comments

Sorry !!

by donb - 2014-06-11 11:06:22

Ya, I read your post again & you're posting about your monitor (I believe). Well I've got 3 sitting in my closet since this past year. Sorry, I've got to read postings at least twice.
DonB

Used Pacemaker !!

by donb - 2014-06-11 11:06:54

Most Drs' in this country will not let you have your "investment" as medical rules won't allow implanting used pacemakers. Generally their given to poor foreign country patients. I again asked to have mine #5 pacemaker last summer which was only 90 days old. Didn't happen as I was disappointed not getting it. As you've seen pictures posted on this site. Working with Electronics for 60 years including digital & having all my equipment I felt I could enjoy monitoring my used pacemaker. Some of our other members have been fortunate to do just that. Guess what bugs me mostly is that the leads & new pacemaker had to be removed because of infection & I spent 7 weeks of treatment & care in the hospital & care facility a year ago. Ya, it was a good up to date Medtronic, hope someone else is harboring it. So, what makes you so sure you won't need your pacemaker?? MY Mom lived a beautifull life with 30years of Atrial Fib & lived to be 101 years, so you could have a number of years. She thought 80 was the end of the line, Ya well, I'm 82 and doing somewhat well, but 101 years looks like a long, long road. So I do understand !!
DonB

Life after death !

by IAN MC - 2014-06-12 03:06:14

Here in the UK , home monitors are not considered to be as necessary as they seem to be in the US BUT we do have a charity , Pace4Life , which encourages PM patients , after death,to donate their PMs to poorer countries.

It is a really worthwhile thing to do and can save lives ( providing that you are willing to die with a reasonable amount of remaining battery life in your PM )

Ian






pets

by Tracey_E - 2014-06-12 08:06:31

There are organizations that donate used but still working pm's to be used in animals. It's illegal to reuse them in humans in the US.

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