Risk analysis and EMI risk abatement strategies for hospitals: scientific and legal approaches

Healthcare professionals are concerned about the risk of an EMI-related injury or property damage caused from an adverse interaction between one or more electromagnetic energy sources (EMES) and the medical devices (MD) located within modern hospitals. These professionals need to understand EMI risks so that responses can be formulated which are appropriate to the physiological risks presented and commensurate to their legal responsibilities. Analysis of EMI risk requires that hazard identification and risk assessment activities be undertaken so that strategies for risk minimization can be developed. Similarities and differences between engineering and legal approaches to this process are noted and discussed. It is concluded that North American tort law would assign the principal (legal) responsibility to hospitals (or hospital administrators) to abate the EMI risk within most healthcare contexts.