Philips External Defibrillators Recalled

Faulty Devices Might Not Deliver Life-Saving Shock

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the recall of thousands of Philips automated external defibrillators (AED) that might not perform during a cardiac emergency. The defibrillators are designed for home use and for use by emergency responders.

In 2012, Philips recalled approximately 700,000 of the medical devices. At that time, the company said that a problem with an internal electrical component could incorrectly indicate that the defibrillator was ready to use. Now Philips says that the part failure could also prevent the AEDs from delivering the shock necessary to return a patient's heartbeat to a normal rhythm.

The FDA advises people to continue using the external defibrillators because the benefits of trying to use an AED in an emergency situation outweigh the risks of not using one. The devices were sold between 2005 and 2012 with the model names HeartStart FRx, HeartStart HS1 Home, and HeartStart HS1 OnSite.