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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is Placing A Pacemaker Advisable In An Alzheimer’s Patient?

My husband has Alzheimers. He also has a racing heart, 182 pulse last night. 2 Atrial Ablations performed, 1 paddle shock. Nothing helped. I am 73 and in pain daily in back and joints. We have no money for assistance and it is killing me caring for him, lifting him up and down 100 times a day. He can hardly walk. If I have a pacemaker implanted, is there anyway, if the Alzheimer s gets worse, to have it removed? His mother had Alzheimers and it took both of us day and night to care for her for a few years. Please help me with this issue!!!
posted on Sat, 8 Jul 2017
Twitter Mon, 28 Aug 2017 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 29 Aug 2017 Last reviewed on
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello,
You must make this decision carefully. It is possible to get a pacemaker disabled but it is quite an ethical dilemma for the family and physicians. Some physicians may refuse to disconnect it since that may result in death and they do not want to make that decision. In some cases the family decides not to have the pacemaker placed to avoid problems with having it turned off in the future. Consider this decision carefully.
Regards
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Is Placing A Pacemaker Advisable In An Alzheimer’s Patient?

Hello, You must make this decision carefully. It is possible to get a pacemaker disabled but it is quite an ethical dilemma for the family and physicians. Some physicians may refuse to disconnect it since that may result in death and they do not want to make that decision. In some cases the family decides not to have the pacemaker placed to avoid problems with having it turned off in the future. Consider this decision carefully. Regards