I asked my brother, a diabetic, about radio interference to his insulin pump. He is a lawyer, and I hoped to get a legal answer to a hypothetical case where he went into insulin shock as a result of my being on the air waves:
Question: John, A hypothetical case. Your my neighbor with a insulin pump, and I am a federally licensed ham radio operator. I am transmitting within the law on a licensed frequency, running legal power, etc. Your pump is susceptible to strong radio waves... One day I am talking on the air, and while talking, a ambulance takes you away. Seems your in insulin shock due to a pump malfunction. Where is the law on this issue? Jim Answer: Jim, You are a mad man. Actually, from looking at the manual of this thing the more likely problem is from the pump interfering with other devices using radio frequencies. The RFs on the pump are used to transmit readings from a glucose test meter to the pump. The book says that interference will not affect the actual pump operation. As to your question the manual says that the pump must comply with Part 15 of the FCC rules and it must accept any interference received. That aside, if I survive in your scenario, look out! John Side note: If his insulin pump was creating interference, and causing me trouble receiving the Collins net this Wednesday, would it be appropriate to ask my brother to turn that darn thing off? :-) -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 266.5.1 - Release Date: 2/27/2005
