Abstract
The increased use of the automated external defibrillator (AED) contributes to the rising survival rate after sudden cardiac arrest in the Netherlands. When used, the AED records the unconscious person’s medical data (heart rhythm and information about cardiopulmonary resuscitation), which may be important for further diagnosis and treatment. In practice, ethical and legal questions arise about what can and should be done with these ‘AED data’. In this article, the authors advocate the development of national guidelines on the handling of AED data. These guidelines should serve two purposes: (1) to safeguard that data are handled carefully in accordance with data protection principles and the rules of medical confidentiality; and (2) to ensure nationwide availability of data for care of patients who survive resuscitation, as well as for quality monitoring of this care and for related scientific research. Given the medical ethical duties of beneficence and fairness, existing (sometimes lifesaving) information about AED use ought to be made available to clinicians and researchers on a structural basis. Creating a national AED data infrastructure, however, requires overcoming practical and organisational barriers. In addition, further legal study is warranted.
Highlights
Every year, 15,000–16,000 people in the Netherlands are affected by sudden cardiac arrest outside the hospital, with an average survival rate of 23% [1]
When using an automated external defibrillator (AED), the device registers the unconscious person’s heart rhythm, as well as information about the delivery of one or more defibrillation shocks and about the resuscitation procedures, i.e. chest compressions and ventilations (Fig. 1). In this point of view article, we consider the healthcare goals for which data recorded by an AED are of vital importance and the legal framework that applies to such data. We argue that these data are currently underutilised and conclude by giving suggestions on how wider availability of AED data can be achieved
We conclude that information from the AED is important for patient care, quality assessment and scientific research, and that it ought to be made available for these purposes on a structural basis, given the duties of beneficence and fairness
Summary
15,000–16,000 people in the Netherlands are affected by sudden cardiac arrest outside the hospital, with an average survival rate of 23% [1]. ‘citizen responders’, who have completed a course on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), can be paged by the dispatch centre through text message or smartphone app notification as part of a national resuscitation alert system (HartslagNu) [5] These citizen responders often collect a public AED while making their way to the patient. When using an AED, the device registers the unconscious person’s heart rhythm, as well as information about the delivery of one or more defibrillation shocks and about the resuscitation procedures, i.e. chest compressions and ventilations (Fig. 1) In this point of view article, we consider the healthcare goals for which data recorded by an AED are of vital importance and the legal framework that applies to such data. We argue that these data are currently underutilised and conclude by giving suggestions on how wider availability of AED data can be achieved
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