A member asked:

How does bystander lightning (not a direct strike) affect implanted pacemakers, defibrillators, vagus nerve stimulators, etc...?

2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Dr. Sheldon Brownstein answered

Specializes in Cardiac Electrophysiology

Bystander: Without a direct hit there is virtually little chance of having any significant effect

Answered 7/20/2018

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Dr. Saptarshi Bandyopadhyay answered

Specializes in Hospital-based practice

Usually no effect.: The lightning strike (even as a bystander - it travels through the soil & can pop up at distances far from the original strike) can have deleterious effects on your heart (causing arrhythmia) or brain (causing unconsciousness) but these are just as likely with or without an implanted device. All electronic implants have a floating ground, which means they cannot short out because of an external ch

Answered 5/6/2019

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