Removal of pacemaker for end of life decisions

I am likely to be recommended for a pacemaker within a month or so.  My question, which I couldn't find discussion of here but redirect me if it is,  ...  is that a time may come in my life when I will choose end-of-life over poor quality-of-life.  If necessary, I'll try to use the Swiss services.  However, right now my quality of life is good, and I expect it to continue for some years.  If/when I reach a time when quality is not sufficient, and I wish to choose another path, will I be able to have the pacemaker removed at my request?  Will I be able to have it removed even if they know that I am having it removed so that I can end my life in an American (right to die law) or Swiss (broader right to die law) way?  Do please refer me to another thread if this has been thoroughly discussed.  Thanks, all!

5 Comments

End of life direcive

by AgentX86 - 2022-10-17 16:44:24

There is no need to remove it. Your pacemaker won't interfere with any "right to die" decisions.  It won't force a heart to beat after death.

One thing to think about is donating the pacemaker.  Sometimes they can use it to give life to some, perhaps third world, unfortunate person who wouldn't normally get one.

End of Life

by WazzA - 2022-10-17 18:17:49

If you have an ICD device fitted then it would need to be turned OFF . If left switched ON it would continue to try shock you BACK into a normal rhythm. THIS does NOT apply to a Pacemaker which will allow a normal death (so I'm led to understand). I wish you MANY more years of good living. 

Good link below

by Gemita - 2022-10-17 18:32:41

https://www.hrsonline.org/documents/end-life-and-heart-rhythm-devices/download

CLRBrook, have a look at the above very useful link on end of life and heart rhythm devices.  It covers most questions you might have.  You will need to copy and paste the link into your main general browser to open it.

removal

by Tracey_E - 2022-10-18 11:15:35

They wouldn't remove it, they would turn it off. However, it's unlikely you'd be able to talk a doctor in the US into doing that.

Two things to know. One, turning it off in most cases just means we are more uncomfortable, not that our hearts would stop. We'd go back to how we were before we were paced. Second, the pacer sends the signal to beat but our heart must contract on its own. The pacer can't force the heart to respond. When we die, the pacer continues to send the signal until it's turned off posthumously. 

 

end of life

by ourswimmer - 2022-10-18 23:05:10

According to a cardiology nurse I spoke with recently, sometimes people in hospice even have their pacemaker generators replaced when the batteries run out. The reasoning is that for those patients, the generator replacement procedure is less painful and stressful than dying without pacing would be.

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