An Information Problem

Defibrillators save lives. They save more lives every year. Sales have gone from 20,000 in 1996 to 200,000 in 1995. Yet, a study of FDA records by a couple of Boston doctors has shown that about 20% of external defibrillators have been the subject of either an FDA recall or warning as to its use.

The problem the FDA has is a direct function of the growth in the use of the equipment. Now that the equipment is available in hotels, malls, schools and even homes, how does the FDA reach these users to inform them of a problem? Currently, it finds it a lot harder to reach Mr. Jones than to notify all the hospitals that use Defibrillator X. This would seem a relatively straightforward problem to solve as it is doubtful that Mr. Jones would sell his machine. Why can't the original seller of the equipment have the buyer register his contact information at the time of sale? Sure, you'd miss those who move, but there would be nothing wrong with the buyer letting the FDA know of changes in her contact information.