If a patient has an ICD, programming can be done to disable the shock treatments of the defibrillator. In any case of deactivation, there must be a doctor’s written order to perform this action.

The heart clinic may supply a magnet that will temporarily suspend shock treatments until the device can be deactivated.

Additionally, certain defibrillators may have audible or vibrating alerts. If they are available in the patient’s ICD, the patient may consider having these alerts disabled as well.