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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Can Removal Of The Pacemaker Be Safe In The Elderly?

My 95 year old mother wants her pacemaker turned off. Sound mind, knows effect. Cannot get anyone to do it. It is not euthanasia or assisted suicide. Same as stopping dialysis. She is healthy but uses words like agony to describe her daily life. If asked if she is depressed she says sure but shouldn t I be. Tried to shut it down with magnet. Didn t work. Any ideas?
Tue, 21 Jan 2020
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Addiction Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Hi,

The batteries wear out anyway. The pacemaker itself doesn't make agony. If it did, something is fixably wrong. A DEFIBRILLATING pacemaker on the other hand is often agony as it shocks someone. The battery goes away a lot faster. BUT again, the arrhythmia is fixable and sometimes it just misfires and shocks someone who doesn't need it. Cannot say in your particular case, but generally, things can be made better without removal.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Matt Wachsman, Addiction Medicine Specialist
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Can Removal Of The Pacemaker Be Safe In The Elderly?

Hi, The batteries wear out anyway. The pacemaker itself doesn t make agony. If it did, something is fixably wrong. A DEFIBRILLATING pacemaker on the other hand is often agony as it shocks someone. The battery goes away a lot faster. BUT again, the arrhythmia is fixable and sometimes it just misfires and shocks someone who doesn t need it. Cannot say in your particular case, but generally, things can be made better without removal. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Matt Wachsman, Addiction Medicine Specialist