Medtronic Insulin Pumps Recalled Due to Cybersecurity Concerns

A recent article from The Washington Post discussed the recall of two Medtronic insulin pumps due to cybersecurity concerns. According to the FDA, The MiniMed 508 and the MiniMed Paradigm are vulnerable to hackers who might connect to the device and change the amount of insulin delivered. If a patient receives too much insulin, they could risk hypoglycemia, and if they receive too little, they run the risk of hyperglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis.

Although no incidents have been reported, the risk of patient harm if the concerns were left unaddressed is significant. Because the devices cannot be updated, Medtronic is providing alternative pumps to patients with more robust cybersecurity capabilities.