The medical devices industry has always strongly relied on the development of science and technology. For instance, the first prosthetic devices were made in ancient times in Egypt, and the first surgical tools were used by Greeks and Romans even earlier. Over the years, humanity has come a long way and got to the point where doctors can perform remote surgeries, restore someone’s hearing, or monitor a patient’s health using various apps and sensors.
While these technological advancements ultimately make our lives healthier and longer, unconditional reliance on technology comes with its dangers. Just a few weeks ago, the news broke in the UK regarding one of the leading manufacturers of a Constant Glucose Monitoring Device (CGM). Diabetes patients using this kind of technology can insert a small sensor under their skin and continuously monitor their blood sugar levels by using a phone app. However, in this case, the app suddenly stopped working for some users, leaving almost 200 000 people in the UK without access to this important data.
People left without access to the app, had to resort to a much more burdensome, traditional method of fingerprint testing, that is if they had the manual sensor at hand. From the interviews conducted by some of the newspapers, it is clear that many patients were left in a panic, trying to find the old sensor. It is not surprising that we quickly we get used to, and feel confident with, technology that makes our lives easier. However, this case proves that this strong reliance can have very serious consequences to our health.
Embracing technological progress in the medical devices industry offers tremendous potential for enhancing people’s lives and instilling hope. However, as this case proves, the end users of various technological novelties should always approach it with caution.
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