An unintended consequence

The issue of a specific medical technology and its unintended consequence are discussed in this Washington Post article "Devices Can Interfere With Peaceful Death: Implants Repeatedly Shock Hearts Of Patients Who Cannot Be Saved". Frankly, I had never thought of this issue until I read this article!

"The implants -- small, internal versions of the paddles that emergency rooms use to shock patients' malfunctioning hearts -- are saving many lives. But in some cases they also are making the act of dying harder, forcing terminally ill patients and families to make wrenching decisions about turning them off. The devices subject some dying patients to painful jolts and can prolong suffering, traumatizing loved ones as the devices fire fruitlessly."