Medical equipment: Difference between revisions

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Various medical equipment and the companies that produce them have come into scrutiny due to anti-consumer practices.

Startup companies often prioritize growth over security, safety, functionality and support. Most startups fail. When they struggle for money, or fail, their assets, including user data, parts and user support are often exploited to maximize monetary return.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Doctorow |first=Cory |date=12 Dec 2022 |title=Orphaned neurological implants |url=https://pluralistic.net/2022/12/12/unsafe-at-any-speed/#this-is-literally-your-brain-on-capitalism |access-date=8 Oct 2025 |website=Pluralistic}}</ref> Some say that developers of implants should ensure that there is funding and resources available so that all users can be supported, even if the company discontinues the product or fails.<ref name=":3" /> Public funding of development, requiring that products be standard, open and replicable is one approach to protecting consumers.<ref name=":2" />

Startup companies often prioritize growth over security, safety, functionality and support. Most startups fail. When they struggle for money, or fail, their assets, including user data, parts and user support are often exploited to maximize monetary return.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Doctorow |first=Cory |date=12 Dec 2022 |title=Orphaned neurological implants |url=https://pluralistic.net/2022/12/12/unsafe-at-any-speed/#this-is-literally-your-brain-on-capitalism |access-date=8 Oct 2025 |website=Pluralistic |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260112111256/https://pluralistic.net/2022/12/12/unsafe-at-any-speed/ |archive-date=12 Jan 2026}}</ref> Some say that developers of implants should ensure that there is funding and resources available so that all users can be supported, even if the company discontinues the product or fails.<ref name=":3" /> Public funding of development, requiring that products be standard, open and replicable is one approach to protecting consumers.<ref name=":2" />

When scans like MRI are done, implants may need to be set to a scan-safe mode. When a company abandons the device, that may not be possible. Thus patients may have to have a device removed, or lose access to important medical diagnostics.

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 Various medical equipment and the companies that produce them have come into scrutiny due to anti-consumer practices.
-Startup companies often prioritize growth over security, safety, functionality and support.  Most startups fail. When they struggle for money, or fail, their assets, including user data, parts and user support are often exploited to maximize monetary return.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Doctorow |first=Cory |date=12 Dec 2022 |title=Orphaned neurological implants |url=https://pluralistic.net/2022/12/12/unsafe-at-any-speed/#this-is-literally-your-brain-on-capitalism |access-date=8 Oct 2025 |website=Pluralistic}}</ref> Some say that developers of implants should ensure that there is funding and resources available so that all users can be supported, even if the company discontinues the product or fails.<ref name=":3" />  Public funding of development, requiring that products be standard, open and replicable is one approach to protecting consumers.<ref name=":2" />
+Startup companies often prioritize growth over security, safety, functionality and support.  Most startups fail. When they struggle for money, or fail, their assets, including user data, parts and user support are often exploited to maximize monetary return.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Doctorow |first=Cory |date=12 Dec 2022 |title=Orphaned neurological implants |url=https://pluralistic.net/2022/12/12/unsafe-at-any-speed/#this-is-literally-your-brain-on-capitalism |access-date=8 Oct 2025 |website=Pluralistic |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260112111256/https://pluralistic.net/2022/12/12/unsafe-at-any-speed/ |archive-date=12 Jan 2026}}</ref> Some say that developers of implants should ensure that there is funding and resources available so that all users can be supported, even if the company discontinues the product or fails.<ref name=":3" />  Public funding of development, requiring that products be standard, open and replicable is one approach to protecting consumers.<ref name=":2" />
 When scans like MRI are done, implants may need to be set to a scan-safe mode.  When a company abandons the device, that may not be possible.  Thus patients may have to have a device removed, or lose access to important medical diagnostics.