Won't a pacemaker stop me from dying by making my heart beat forever?

No.

The pacemaker will be able to stimulate the muscle of the heart to beat as long as the problem is only due to a failure of the hearts own electrical system. If you were to have a fatal heart attack or to die for some other reason the pacemaker would not be able to make the heart carry on beating.

It is worth knowing that if you die with a pacemaker inserted this must be removed before a cremation. Removal of a pacemaker from someone after death is a very simple procedure that can be arranged by the undertaker.

Back to questions

Back to Implanting a Pacemaker

Back to Pacemakers

Back to Welcome page