Medical equipment: Difference between revisions
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{{DeletionRequest|Article is too vague and has virtually no content. Somewhat redundant with the medical ventilators page.}}{{StubNotice}} | {{DeletionRequest|Article is too vague and has virtually no content. Somewhat redundant with the medical ventilators page.}}{{StubNotice}} | ||
'''Medical | '''Medical equipment'''/medical devices have some consumer issues that set them apart from many other common devices. Some devices are vital to a user’s life or ability to function, such as pacemakers, ventilators, or prosthetics. Ownership and payment may be more complex, with equipment owned by a care facility, or paid for by insurance. Some devices or supplies are only available with physician approval (e.g., oxygen concentrators, CPAP). Many devices fall under more careful regulation, such as by the Food and Drug administration, or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Data collected by medical devices can be extremely personal, but users are often shut out from accessing it. There may also be issues with users getting control of their devices. Even when the device is implanted in a users body, others sometimes assert that they should have control, and the user should be denied autonomy. | ||
Standard consumer issues, like right to repair, right to own, interoperability, privacy, and security also apply. | Standard consumer issues, like right to repair, right to own, interoperability, privacy, and security also apply. | ||
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*Right to repair - access to manuals, supplies and parts for maintenance and repair. (e.g., Wheelchairs, ventilators, etc.) | *Right to repair - access to manuals, supplies and parts for maintenance and repair. (e.g., Wheelchairs, ventilators, etc.) | ||
*Right to own - | *Right to own - | ||
**access to data from your personal device (e.g., CPAP, pacemaker, CGM). | **access to data from your personal device (e.g., CPAP, pacemaker, CGM). | ||
**control of your devices. (e.g., Insulin pumps) | **control of your devices. (e.g., Insulin pumps) | ||
**Interoperability - proprietary supplies/consumables. (Insulin, CGM) | **Interoperability - proprietary supplies/consumables. (Insulin, CGM) | ||
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At the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic, ventilators were suddenly in very high demand. Digital rights management and lack of right to repair made the equipment shortage worse, and probably increased mortality. | At the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic, ventilators were suddenly in very high demand. Digital rights management and lack of right to repair made the equipment shortage worse, and probably increased mortality. | ||
=== Neural stimulators === | ===Neural stimulators=== | ||
Implanted devices become inoperable when companies abandon them. | Implanted devices become inoperable when companies abandon them. | ||
=== Pacemakers === | ===Pacemakers=== | ||
Lack access to your data. | Lack access to your data. | ||
=== Artificial Pancreas (glucose level monitoring and insulin delivery). === | ===Artificial Pancreas (glucose level monitoring and insulin delivery).=== | ||
==== Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) ==== | ====Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM)==== | ||
==== Insulin pumps ==== | ====Insulin pumps==== | ||
=== Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP/APAP/BiPAP) === | ===Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP/APAP/BiPAP)=== | ||
Data access. Control. | Data access. Control. | ||
=== Wheelchairs === | ===Wheelchairs=== | ||
Repair. | Repair. | ||
Revision as of 21:26, 4 October 2025
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- Right to repair (← links | edit)
- Terumo Cardiovascular (← links | edit)
- 3B CPAP Devices (3b Medical) (ReactHealth) (← links | edit)
- Medical device (redirect page) (← links | edit)
- Consumer Rights Wiki talk:Moderators' noticeboard/Archive 3 (← links | edit)
- Projects:Archive everything (← links | edit)
❗Article Status Notice: This Article is a stub
This article is underdeveloped, and needs additional work to meet the wiki's Content Guidelines and be in line with our Mission Statement for comprehensive coverage of consumer protection issues. Learn more ▼
Medical equipment/medical devices have some consumer issues that set them apart from many other common devices. Some devices are vital to a user’s life or ability to function, such as pacemakers, ventilators, or prosthetics. Ownership and payment may be more complex, with equipment owned by a care facility, or paid for by insurance. Some devices or supplies are only available with physician approval (e.g., oxygen concentrators, CPAP). Many devices fall under more careful regulation, such as by the Food and Drug administration, or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Data collected by medical devices can be extremely personal, but users are often shut out from accessing it. There may also be issues with users getting control of their devices. Even when the device is implanted in a users body, others sometimes assert that they should have control, and the user should be denied autonomy.
Standard consumer issues, like right to repair, right to own, interoperability, privacy, and security also apply.
Various medical equipment and the companies that produce them have come into scrutiny due to anti-consumer practices.
Issues
- Right to repair - access to manuals, supplies and parts for maintenance and repair. (e.g., Wheelchairs, ventilators, etc.)
- Right to own -
- access to data from your personal device (e.g., CPAP, pacemaker, CGM).
- control of your devices. (e.g., Insulin pumps)
- Interoperability - proprietary supplies/consumables. (Insulin, CGM)
- Rug pull - loss of function/access to devices (including implanted devices). (Neural stimulators)
Examples
Echographs
MRI
CT-Scanners
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Terumo Cardiovascular blocks 3rd party repair of the Advanced Perfusion System 1 Heart Lung Machine.[1]
Ventilators
- Main article: Medical ventilator
At the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic, ventilators were suddenly in very high demand. Digital rights management and lack of right to repair made the equipment shortage worse, and probably increased mortality.
Neural stimulators
Implanted devices become inoperable when companies abandon them.
Pacemakers
Lack access to your data.
Artificial Pancreas (glucose level monitoring and insulin delivery).
Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM)
Insulin pumps
Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP/APAP/BiPAP)
Data access. Control.
Wheelchairs
Repair.
Software
A study was conducted in Cambridge in relation to software-dependent medical devices and how they would benefit from right to repair.[2]
References
- ↑ Maxwell, Thomas (23 Jan 2025). "Medical Device Company Suddenly Stops Hospitals From Fixing Machines Themselves". Gizmodo. Retrieved 16 Mar 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Lindgren, Lars; Kesselheim, Aaron S.; Kramer, Daniel B. (8 Mar 2023). "The Right to Repair Software-Dependent Medical Devices". Cambridge University Press. Retrieved 16 Mar 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)