WISDOM FOLLOWS:
Most pacemakers these days have a home unit, a sort of base station for your implant that monitors the ops of the device. Not only does it keep track of your vitals via near field RFD, it allows off site medical emer people to admin the device when you have an event or some sort of trouble with the implant. Recently, news came that the base stations (which are wireless now, older units came with line to be run to nearest phone jack) and when tied to the net (IOT) could possibly be black hatted. All it takes is a valid IP address and, well, you think taking control of a Jeep’s throttle was bad, wait till you find out any kiddy scripter could possibly shut down your implant.
Not to worry though, most manufacturers have foreseen this issue and now new implants are out and being installed that can no longer can be externally controlled. The programming of the implant now is only changeable by the surgeon
(**please write down your password and keep it in a safe and secure place. do not write it on the pacemaker**).
Only thing the base unit can do now is monitor and record events.Trust me, it’s a good thing for them to be able to see you having an infarction and then call you to ask about it.
And believe it or not, changing the pacemaker is now an outpatient event. You’re home in 6 hours with minor surgery.
