Q. My husband has aggressive prostate cancer. If he loses his battle with cancer, will his implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) shock him or prevent him from dying?
A
No. An ICD will deliver a shock only when it senses a rapid heart rhythm. In many diseases, such as cancer, breathing and heart rhythm slow down and then stop as the patient passes. An ICD will not shock for that type of heart rhythm and will not prolong their passing.
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