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Can anyone advise how heart pacemakers should disposed of when removed from a body at a funeral directors? It appears that hospitals are not interested.
Ta.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Rank: Super forum user
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Thank you Descarte, I had already seen this but it only relates to Kent. I have contacted our local hospital and am awaiting a response, but my understanding is that they do not take them back. In the meantime our client has a drawer full of them and wants rid of.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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http://abhi.3internet.co.../aimd_disposal_01_06.pdfShould provide info at least. Looks like they are exempted from WEEE regs but that if the hospital cannot help, that the manufacturer could be contacted to see if they are prepared to take them back. If not, other arrangements to be sought through hazardous waste collection etc. This is a 2006 document and I do not know if anything has since been updated. But is the most recent advice that I know of. Cheers
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Rank: Super forum user
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Recent studies in America indicate that pacemakers can be recycled safely [Manufacturers dispute this - perhaps they are worried about sales]
In the not too distant future, I would expect Charities to be recycling them into the developing world - apparently it does happen to a small extent today.
I would suggest [if he can afford the space] that your client hold on to them until recycling 'takes off'
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I have seen reference to this too Alan. Good point.
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Silly question but how do you de-activate them or make them safe as surely they are designed to deliver a voltage if they detect an erratic heart beat which i would have thought being dead would apply.
Phil
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Decimomal - I suggest you contact the relevant local council. Funeral Parlours (coffin makers and embarmers) are enforced by your relevant LA EHO's.
HSE as enforcers in cremetoria. If you shouldn't burn batteries then I'd be supprised if burning pacemakers would be a safe practice. If they consider the suitability of RA's in such places they may have info on dealing with controlling safety and such items.
As a waste product electronic/hazardous waste (metals etc) the Environment Agency may also have a handle on it.
Crematoriums themselves may be able to advise.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Decimonal, I should have pointed out yesterday that there are different types of implant which may look similar. 'Normal' pacemakers merely act as a pacer for the heart - an internal metronome so that the heart will beat at a certain rhythm. They use electronic pacing pulses and also have batteries, but do not use electric shocks to correct the heart rhythm. Implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) are the implants which give the shocks.
Might be worth finding out which of the drawer contents are ICDs as these are I think more volatile when incinerated. It may be that pacemakers and ICDs have different methods of safe destruction, so the advice above from multuminparvo is good, also might be worth contacting one of the many manufacturers for their input.
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