A little google on Pacemakers. My mom had one for years ,when she passed away it was turned off.
I'm sure by now they have a close time of when she passed .
A pacemaker does not automatically stop when you die; it will continue to send electrical signals until its battery dies, which can last for several days or even years. Although the device remains active, it cannot keep a person alive or prevent death from terminal illness or heart failure.
Key Details About Pacemakers and Death:
- Continued Operation: The device keeps pacing, but the heart muscles become too weak (acidotic) to respond to the signals.
- Deactivation: While not required, pacemakers can be turned off by a doctor, nurse, or technician using a special magnet or programmer to allow a natural death.
- ICDs vs. Pacemakers:While a pacemaker just paces, an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) might deliver uncomfortable shocks at the end of life, so deactivating ICDs is common in hospice care
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- Cremation Warning: If the body is being cremated, the pacemaker must be removed beforehand because the intense heat can cause it to explode.
A pacemaker is not designed to recognize death; therefore, it continues to function mechanically until it is manually turned off or the battery fails.
