Wireless Medical Devices Under Scrutiny

U.S. Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) have sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office asking whether the Federal Communications Commission is effectively identifying possible risks posed by wireless medical devices, including hacking and interference with other health care equipment.

“In bringing forward innovative wireless technologies and devices for health care, it’s critical that these devices are able to operate together and with other hospital equipment, and not interfere with each other’s activities and data transmissions. It’s also important that such devices operate in a safe, reliable, and secure manner,” Eshoo and Markey wrote.

The Aug. 15 letter expressed the concerns of U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee members regarding the safety, security and reliability of wireless medical devices. It also cited a recent presentation at a Las Vegas conference in which a computer analyst demonstrated that it is possible to hack into wireless medical devices, including pacemakers, intravenous pumps and blood pressure cuffs.

Eshoo and Markey also questioned whether the commission is collaborating with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on its oversight activities.