Made to go through the AMD with a pacemaker
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Made to go through the AMD with a pacemaker
Hi All,
I was wondering if any of you may be able to help me with a problem that a relative has encountered as a result of airport security and that lead to a major health scare?
My girlfriend's grandad, who is 79 years old, recently went on holiday from Bournemouth Airport and even though he has a pacemaker, and mentioned that he had one at security, was made to go through the Archway Metal Detector (AMD) by security staff. This stopped his pacemaker and the next day he was admitted to hospital in Portugal. He remained there for 5 days before he was flown back to the UK free of charge by Palmair.
I want to know how to go about making a complaint / getting him compensation. He was obviously not in a good physical state as a result of being made to walk through the archway and potentially could have died had he not gone to hospital. Whilst Palmair were excellent in looking after him and getting him back to the UK Bournemouth Airport security seem to me to be at fault and completely negligent in their care for him. Having previously worked at several airports I know that persons fitted with pacemakers should not go through AMD's!
Does anyone know how I should procede with this? Whilst I know who operates the airport I am not sure how to file my complaint??? I don't like sensationalist journalists much but had considered maybe getting in touch with one or even ringing up one of those 'where there is blame there is a claim' companies. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
EagleStar
I was wondering if any of you may be able to help me with a problem that a relative has encountered as a result of airport security and that lead to a major health scare?
My girlfriend's grandad, who is 79 years old, recently went on holiday from Bournemouth Airport and even though he has a pacemaker, and mentioned that he had one at security, was made to go through the Archway Metal Detector (AMD) by security staff. This stopped his pacemaker and the next day he was admitted to hospital in Portugal. He remained there for 5 days before he was flown back to the UK free of charge by Palmair.
I want to know how to go about making a complaint / getting him compensation. He was obviously not in a good physical state as a result of being made to walk through the archway and potentially could have died had he not gone to hospital. Whilst Palmair were excellent in looking after him and getting him back to the UK Bournemouth Airport security seem to me to be at fault and completely negligent in their care for him. Having previously worked at several airports I know that persons fitted with pacemakers should not go through AMD's!
Does anyone know how I should procede with this? Whilst I know who operates the airport I am not sure how to file my complaint??? I don't like sensationalist journalists much but had considered maybe getting in touch with one or even ringing up one of those 'where there is blame there is a claim' companies. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
EagleStar
You are right to make an issue of this, it is a serious matter. Go and see a lawyer.
He should get some compensation, but more than this the ensuing publicity will ensure that security staff are more careful and less heavy-handed in future.
You will be doing us all a favour.
He should get some compensation, but more than this the ensuing publicity will ensure that security staff are more careful and less heavy-handed in future.
You will be doing us all a favour.
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how did he last so long . . . . . . ?
This stopped his pacemaker, and the next day he was admitted to hospital in Portugal. He remained there for 5 days
As in the case of people like diabetics who have to carry needles on long flights, in this sort of case a doctor's note clearly explaining about the pacemaker might have made the security staff more receptive.
It certainly warrants a complaint to the airport's management.
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post your story with the Echo
Bournemouth Echo: Contact Us: Got a story?
Get it taken up with the local paper, they'll happily run it and the nationals will most likely pick up on it. Compensation will soon follow and a grovelling apology.
Get it taken up with the local paper, they'll happily run it and the nationals will most likely pick up on it. Compensation will soon follow and a grovelling apology.
Pacemakers do not necessarily produce pacing pulses all the time. They monitor the heart's performance and apply pacing pulses when necessary. Thus stopping the pacemaker today could easily not produce any effects until days or even weeks later, depending on the exact reason for the pacemaker being fitted and the problems the heart gets.
Hopefully, the pacemaker could be restarted externally in this case - modern pacers can generally be communciated with, either by radio or an external inductive system.
I agree with sallyanne and peterwe - this is too serious a matter for just a letter to airport management. See a lawyer. How about a complaint to the police of ABH? After all, security give PAX enough aggrovation - time for them to get some back!
Hopefully, the pacemaker could be restarted externally in this case - modern pacers can generally be communciated with, either by radio or an external inductive system.
I agree with sallyanne and peterwe - this is too serious a matter for just a letter to airport management. See a lawyer. How about a complaint to the police of ABH? After all, security give PAX enough aggrovation - time for them to get some back!
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This is alarming - I acquired a pacemaker earlier this year and use BOH/Hurn.
I hope the unfortunate gentleman is now getting better and will be able to have his holiday before too long.
I was under the impression that the detectors, while not desireable, would not stop the pacemaker but would set off the alarms unecessarily. Clearly I was mistaken - or maybe there are different sorts of pacemaker - and detectors.
For myself, I have been through BOH security twice in the past 2 months and had no difficulty at all; each time I was hand checked with efficiency and good humour.
Given the demographics of the Hurn catchment area one would imagine that they see several pacemakers every day. While by no means excusing what happened I wonder if there might have been a communication failure - did they really understand that he had a pacemaker? BOH now has - happily - many more flights but still only one queue feeding two baggage scanners - when 3 or 4 departing flights coincide (albeit only 737s) it can all get rather anxious and hectic.
Each time I made my predicament known at the first point of contact - the lady feeing my belongings into the scanner - who called the chap doing the check, and I was immediately ushered through.
Similarly, the pacemaker caused no problems at all on a trip to the USA, El Salvador and Mexico in April. It just took a little longer but everyone concerned clearly regarded pacemakers as routine. Only in El Salvador did they ask me to verify that I did indeed have a pacemaker, and then with courtesy. Some of the Americans were almost comic in their exagerated politeness.
I hope the unfortunate gentleman is now getting better and will be able to have his holiday before too long.
I was under the impression that the detectors, while not desireable, would not stop the pacemaker but would set off the alarms unecessarily. Clearly I was mistaken - or maybe there are different sorts of pacemaker - and detectors.
For myself, I have been through BOH security twice in the past 2 months and had no difficulty at all; each time I was hand checked with efficiency and good humour.
Given the demographics of the Hurn catchment area one would imagine that they see several pacemakers every day. While by no means excusing what happened I wonder if there might have been a communication failure - did they really understand that he had a pacemaker? BOH now has - happily - many more flights but still only one queue feeding two baggage scanners - when 3 or 4 departing flights coincide (albeit only 737s) it can all get rather anxious and hectic.
Each time I made my predicament known at the first point of contact - the lady feeing my belongings into the scanner - who called the chap doing the check, and I was immediately ushered through.
Similarly, the pacemaker caused no problems at all on a trip to the USA, El Salvador and Mexico in April. It just took a little longer but everyone concerned clearly regarded pacemakers as routine. Only in El Salvador did they ask me to verify that I did indeed have a pacemaker, and then with courtesy. Some of the Americans were almost comic in their exagerated politeness.
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Some of the Americans were almost comic in their exagerated politeness.
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I have had an ICD (Implanted Cardiac Defibrillator), which includes a pacemaker, for 4 years now, and have never had a problem with security searches. Southampton Hospital, who fitted the device, provided me with a card in a number of languages, to produce at security so that I could avoid going through a magnetic checking system.
I've flown and cruised around the world and have always been treated with understanding and courtesy.
There may have been a communication problem here as we've just moved from Bournemouth to Leeds and they certainly knew about ICDs at Bournemouth security when I went through.
ERB
I've flown and cruised around the world and have always been treated with understanding and courtesy.
There may have been a communication problem here as we've just moved from Bournemouth to Leeds and they certainly knew about ICDs at Bournemouth security when I went through.
ERB
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Eaglestar,
Sorry that your relative was affected by this issue, for someone else it could be potentially life threatening. I asume that this matter is known to his cardiologist who will be taking the appropriate steps together with medical devices specialists to ensure that the device is functioning correctly.
Pacemakers are programmed using electromagnetic induction. Users are advised not to wear magnetic fasteners on their blouses never mind going through a metal detector!
As this happened in the UK I expect that his UK cardiologist has reported this adverse incident to the Medical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. They may perform an investigation alongside the pacemaker's manufacture, in this case I'd be very suprised if they didn't.
Make sure that this incident has been reported and ask for the hospital and the MHRA to copy you into all correspondence, it will add considerable weight to any valid claim.
The following is an extract from their website, www.mhra.gov
"
Reporting problems with implantable pacemakers and defibrillators
Printer friendly version (new window)
Related information:
MHRA pages:Featured publications:
For patients
If you are a UK patient with an implantable pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and have concerns about:
British Heart Foundation
14 Fitzhardinge Street
London W1H 6DH
Tel: 020 7935 0185
For clinicians
The MHRA encourages cardiologists and physiologists, who manage patients with pacemakers and ICDs, to report adverse incidents where deterioration of the device has led to patient harm - or could have done so.
Examples of adverse incidents associated with implantable pacemakers, ICDs and accessories include:
Reports can be made online via the MHRA website (preferred), alternatively a dedicated malfunction report form can be downloaded from the website and reports e-mailed/faxed to the MHRA Adverse Incident Centre.
Full information and guidance on reporting Adverse Incidents is published annually in a MHRA Device Bulletin titled 'Reporting Adverse Incidents and Disseminating Medical Device Alerts'.
For manufacturers
Manufacturers have a legal obligation to report direct to the MHRA any occurrence (within the UK) where a patient has died, or has been harmed, as a result of an adverse incident occurring with a pacemaker or ICD - or where there was potential for death or harm to occur.
Manufacturers should refer to The Vigilance System
(776Kb) for specific guidance on requirements to report adverse incidents. They should also consult the Active Implantable Medical Device Directive (external link).
The MHRA has developed a Manufacturer Online Reporting Environment (MORE) to facilitate incident reporting by manufacturers."
You can report it yourself but it's better done by the staff at his hospital who will (should?) be managing this serious untoward incident.
I hope he suffers no long term ill effects from this treatment and remember that aside from the issue compensation making a sensible and proper fuss could prevent this happening to someone else.
Sorry that your relative was affected by this issue, for someone else it could be potentially life threatening. I asume that this matter is known to his cardiologist who will be taking the appropriate steps together with medical devices specialists to ensure that the device is functioning correctly.
Pacemakers are programmed using electromagnetic induction. Users are advised not to wear magnetic fasteners on their blouses never mind going through a metal detector!
As this happened in the UK I expect that his UK cardiologist has reported this adverse incident to the Medical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. They may perform an investigation alongside the pacemaker's manufacture, in this case I'd be very suprised if they didn't.
Make sure that this incident has been reported and ask for the hospital and the MHRA to copy you into all correspondence, it will add considerable weight to any valid claim.
The following is an extract from their website, www.mhra.gov
"
Reporting problems with implantable pacemakers and defibrillators
Printer friendly version (new window)
Related information:
MHRA pages:Featured publications:
For patients
If you are a UK patient with an implantable pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and have concerns about:
- whether your implant is working correctly
- your implant being affected by a manufacturer's safety advisory notice
- the effects of your occupational environment on your pacemaker
- possible interference effects from general electrical equipment, mobile phones or rooftop aerial masts
- shopping where electronic article surveillance anti-theft systems exist
- suitability to travel and airport security metal detectors
- forthcoming general surgery and how your pacemaker or ICD might be affected then you should seek advice from the hospital pacemaker/ICD follow-up clinic you normally attend.
British Heart Foundation
14 Fitzhardinge Street
London W1H 6DH
Tel: 020 7935 0185
For clinicians
The MHRA encourages cardiologists and physiologists, who manage patients with pacemakers and ICDs, to report adverse incidents where deterioration of the device has led to patient harm - or could have done so.
Examples of adverse incidents associated with implantable pacemakers, ICDs and accessories include:
- premature battery depletion (taking into consideration programmed settings and usage)
- unclear or conflicting battery status/longevity indicators
- lack of battery status indicators within manufacturer specified periods
- unexpected decrease/increase in lead impedance
- unexpected programming problems
- inappropriate delivery of therapy
- non-delivery of therapy
- unexplained or non-reversible permanent backup mode pacing
- device/programmer telemetry failure (inability to reprogramme)
- abnormal programmer/device behaviour following software upgrades.
Reports can be made online via the MHRA website (preferred), alternatively a dedicated malfunction report form can be downloaded from the website and reports e-mailed/faxed to the MHRA Adverse Incident Centre.
Full information and guidance on reporting Adverse Incidents is published annually in a MHRA Device Bulletin titled 'Reporting Adverse Incidents and Disseminating Medical Device Alerts'.
For manufacturers
Manufacturers have a legal obligation to report direct to the MHRA any occurrence (within the UK) where a patient has died, or has been harmed, as a result of an adverse incident occurring with a pacemaker or ICD - or where there was potential for death or harm to occur.
Manufacturers should refer to The Vigilance System
(776Kb) for specific guidance on requirements to report adverse incidents. They should also consult the Active Implantable Medical Device Directive (external link).The MHRA has developed a Manufacturer Online Reporting Environment (MORE) to facilitate incident reporting by manufacturers."
You can report it yourself but it's better done by the staff at his hospital who will (should?) be managing this serious untoward incident.
I hope he suffers no long term ill effects from this treatment and remember that aside from the issue compensation making a sensible and proper fuss could prevent this happening to someone else.
earth-bound
Biotronik, Medtronic, St Jude Medical and Boston Scientific all have pacemakers with a radio interface as well/instead of magnetic induction. The first three use the band assigned to Medical Implant Communications Service at 402 - 405 MHz: Boston Scientific devices using 915MHz aren't used in Europe.
If you want more information, send a PM
Biotronik, Medtronic, St Jude Medical and Boston Scientific all have pacemakers with a radio interface as well/instead of magnetic induction. The first three use the band assigned to Medical Implant Communications Service at 402 - 405 MHz: Boston Scientific devices using 915MHz aren't used in Europe.
If you want more information, send a PM
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Before anyone from the New World jumps in with claims of Yank bashing - this is a compliment.
At OAK last week, through TSA security in three minutes, flat. Very well organized.
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Eaglestar,
This is indeed alarming. General advice given to pacemaker patients is that they should not pass through metal detector gates if possible, however they or their pacemaker will not come to harm if they are made to do so. The action of passing through a magnetic field may temporarily place the pacemaker into a testing mode, but normal device function will return once they exit the field. The patient may be aware of a temporary increase in heart rate during this but it is not dangerous and certainly should not be permanent. There are no reports in the medical literature of such actions occuring (and believe me any interested doctor would love to write up such a paper, a recent report of IPODs potentially causing interference gathered much media attention but has since been proved to have been somewhat flawed), and pacemaker manufacturers undertake extreme testing to ensure devices are well protected from accidental magnetic field or RF exposure.
What was the outcome with the your g/f's Grandad and his pacemaker? ie.
What symptoms did he experience and when?
What actions were performed to confirm a pacemaker issue? - What was found and how was it dealt with? (surgical replacement / reprogramming / lead repositioning etc.)
Who in the UK is aware of this? GP / Pacing clinic / Cardiologist / Pacemaker manufacturer / MHRA?
I work in healthcare in the UK and specialise in Pacemakers / ICDs. Please pm me if you'd prefer. There are a couple of points here which suggest the full story is not known and clarification is needed before you begin action which may be expensive and unnecessary.
This is indeed alarming. General advice given to pacemaker patients is that they should not pass through metal detector gates if possible, however they or their pacemaker will not come to harm if they are made to do so. The action of passing through a magnetic field may temporarily place the pacemaker into a testing mode, but normal device function will return once they exit the field. The patient may be aware of a temporary increase in heart rate during this but it is not dangerous and certainly should not be permanent. There are no reports in the medical literature of such actions occuring (and believe me any interested doctor would love to write up such a paper, a recent report of IPODs potentially causing interference gathered much media attention but has since been proved to have been somewhat flawed), and pacemaker manufacturers undertake extreme testing to ensure devices are well protected from accidental magnetic field or RF exposure.
What was the outcome with the your g/f's Grandad and his pacemaker? ie.
What symptoms did he experience and when?
What actions were performed to confirm a pacemaker issue? - What was found and how was it dealt with? (surgical replacement / reprogramming / lead repositioning etc.)
Who in the UK is aware of this? GP / Pacing clinic / Cardiologist / Pacemaker manufacturer / MHRA?
I work in healthcare in the UK and specialise in Pacemakers / ICDs. Please pm me if you'd prefer. There are a couple of points here which suggest the full story is not known and clarification is needed before you begin action which may be expensive and unnecessary.
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Thanks to everyone for your replies and comments! I believe he was goinf to the hospital to see the specialist today but do not have any further information on what they found and will have to ask my GF later. I know that I need to get an exact explaination of what happened from him before we decide whther to make a claim but this is not the easiest of things to do as his memory is not as good as it used to be.
Thanks again!
EagleStar
Thanks again!
EagleStar
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Would say you need to lodge the complaint sooner than later ES. Any security camera / CCTV footage could be valuable in proving what happened, but they won't keep the tapes/discs forever. If you lodge the complaint at least you can ask that the images be saved (if they haven't been lost already).
I am told by those in the know that the TSA has had a major shake-up in the courtesy department, and if any agent is less than completely courtious (business-like) they will be shown the door, pronto.
At OAK last week, through TSA security in three minutes, flat. Very well organized.
At OAK last week, through TSA security in three minutes, flat. Very well organized.
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Seems to be a lot of contradictory info on the web. Several sites say things like this...
Pacemaker Frequently Asked Questions
Pacemakers: Generating regular heartbeats - MayoClinic.com
I suspect you may have a battle for compensation if the effect wasn't instant. Proving it was the security scanner might be difficult unless the pacemaker has some kind of data logging built in.
Pacemaker Frequently Asked Questions
Can security equipment in Airports and Shop entrance damage or interfere with my pacemaker? ....snip...
Your pacemaker will not be affected by the security system. However the metal case around your pacemaker could set off the alarm.
Your pacemaker will not be affected by the security system. However the metal case around your pacemaker could set off the alarm.
Security Systems. Passing through an airport metal detector won't interfere with your pacemeker, although the metal may sound an alarm
I suspect you may have a battle for compensation if the effect wasn't instant. Proving it was the security scanner might be difficult unless the pacemaker has some kind of data logging built in.
I believe the complainant has a duty to press a complaint in order to prevent this sort of bullying being repeated on other, perhaps less fortunate, victims.