A catalog advertises a home defibrillator for less than $1,300 with no prescription required. My internist said he wouldn’t have one of those things in his house because they were unsafe. A longtime friend of mine died recently at 61, my current age, so I’m particularly interested in whether you think buying a defibrillator is a good idea.

We often hear questions like this about automated external defibrillators (AEDs). They can deliver a potentially lifesaving shock, through chest pads, to restore a normal heartbeat after cardiac arrest. Any delay in receiving this treatment cuts the odds of survival and meaningful recovery. So AEDs have proliferated in airports, sport stadiums and health…

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