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> It turns out that the CPAP contains a cellular modem, and it phones home and reports in real-time. I had no idea this thing was recording any data at all. It

> It turns out that the CPAP contains a cellular modem, and it phones home and reports in real-time. I had no idea this thing was recording any data at all. It wasn't verbally disclosed to me by either the doctor or the equipment technicians. I imagine there's something buried in the fine print of the (long lost) documentation, possibly even in the fine print of some form I signed, but I was caught off guard and none too pleased. I should think that perhaps the legal requirements should be: 1. Its capability of wireless communcation, and a brief description of what it does, and the power and frequency it uses, should be clearly marked on the package. 2. The included documentation should need to describe the details of the wireless communication, including whatever is mentioned on the package. 3. There should be required it can be disabled without disabling its other functions, and this feature must be documented. The other things that you mention too, should be applicable. I agree with you that "I don't agree with the undisclosed enforcement mechanism, nor do I agree that treatment should be contingent on monitoring" and that "This is insanely invasive, even with disclosure, and ought to be illegal without explicit, obvious verbal and written disclosure". The medical devices should not be doing such surveillance (and medical devices should ideally not require a computer, either).

HeyLaughingBoy 5y ago
> medical devices should ideally not require a computer, I can accept that you may have no knowledge of the ridiculous complexity of modern medical devices, but if you're a software developer I would expect that you realize there are computers in everything The device isn't "surveilling" you. It's reporting therapy-relevant, and probably device performance, information that is actually important both to the clinic and the device manufacturer. The "low-tech" alternative would be you going into the physician's office once a week for a checkup. I'm pretty sure most people would prefer that it upload the data.
- zzo38computer 5y ago
  > I can accept that you may have no knowledge of the ridiculous complexity of modern medical devices That is correct, I don't know. However, they are made more complicated and then might fail (e.g. if the power runs out). > if you're a software developer I would expect that you realize there are computers in everything Many things do these days, but I think that computers should not be needed in everything, even some that do. > The "low-tech" alternative would be you going into the physician's office once a week for a checkup. I'm pretty sure most people would prefer that it upload the data. Yes, although it shouldn't be required, in case a few people do prefer an alternative (that isn't the only one, although it is a possibility).

HeyLaughingBoy 5y ago

> medical devices should ideally not require a computer, I can accept that you may have no knowledge of the ridiculous complexity of modern medical devices, but if you're a software developer I would expect that you realize there are computers in everything The device isn't "surveilling" you. It's reporting therapy-relevant, and probably device performance, information that is actually important both to the clinic and the device manufacturer. The "low-tech" alternative would be you going into the physician's office once a week for a checkup. I'm pretty sure most people would prefer that it upload the data.

zzo38computer 5y ago
> I can accept that you may have no knowledge of the ridiculous complexity of modern medical devices That is correct, I don't know. However, they are made more complicated and then might fail (e.g. if the power runs out). > if you're a software developer I would expect that you realize there are computers in everything Many things do these days, but I think that computers should not be needed in everything, even some that do. > The "low-tech" alternative would be you going into the physician's office once a week for a checkup. I'm pretty sure most people would prefer that it upload the data. Yes, although it shouldn't be required, in case a few people do prefer an alternative (that isn't the only one, although it is a possibility).