Although rare, deaths can occur if an ICD fails to work when needed.

: Turning off an ICD does not cause immediate death. It simply ensures that the patient will not receive unnecessary shocks during their final moments.

: Some argue that defibrillators can take away the possibility of a "quick and painless" sudden death, instead prolonging a difficult dying process from other non-cardiac causes. Effectiveness of Emergency Defibrillation (AEDs)