An iPhone 12 with MagSafe is capable of shutting down medical devices like pacemakers, a new medical study suggests.
Persons with medical devices like pacemakers, beware. A new medical study suggests that an iPhone 12 with MagSafe can shut down or deactivate medical devices like Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICD) and pacemakers. Researchers published their study in the Heart Rhythm Journal, the official periodical of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS). The medical examiners revealed that when they brought the iPhone 12 close to the ICD on the left chest section, they noted an immediate suspension of the medical device's functions, which continued for the duration of the test. Placing the iPhone in various positions over the pocket derived the same result. This led researchers to believe the new iPhone 12 with MagSafe might pose a serious risk to persons with ICDs or pacemakers.
Medical study suggests iPhone 12 with MagSafe can deactivate pacemakers https://t.co/hRZRDYzzOI by @michaelpotuck — 9to5Mac.com (@9to5mac) January 11, 2021
When Apple launched the new iPhone 12 with MagSafe lineup, questions arose about how these devices containing more magnets might affect medical devices like ICDs or pacemakers. According to some Apple officials, the iPhone 12 with MagSafe would not have any effect on such medical devices more than past iPhone models. Results of the recent medical study entitled "Life-Saving Therapy Inhibition by Phones Containing Magnets" disputes this statement of Apple as researchers showed how the latest device from the Cupertino tech giant can deactivate or shut down medical devices like pacemakers.
While Apple never explicitly stated that its iPhones or the iPhone 12 with MagSafe lineup would not shut down or deactivate, or at least interfere with, pacemakers or ICDs, the company officially declared in a support document that their gadgets do not pose a serious risk to these medical gizmos. "iPhone contains magnets as well as components and radios that emit electromagnetic fields. These magnets and electromagnetic fields may interfere with medical devices, such as pacemakers and defibrillators. Though all iPhone 12 models contain more magnets than prior iPhone models, they're not expected to pose a greater risk of magnetic interference to medical devices than prior iPhone models," Apple's support document states. The recent medical study, however, suggests otherwise.
Although researchers say the results of their medical study do not provide solid proof that iPhone 12 with MagSafe pose a bigger risk of greater interference with medical devices like pacemakers or ICDs, the study does warrant the need for a deeper examination of the impact of such tech gadgets on various medical gizmos. The medical examiners also clarified that any item, not just iPhones or smartphones, with strong magnets can result in such interference. For now, the short-term solution to such risk is to keep away any items containing strong magnets from pacemakers and other similar types of medical devices.
