Insulin Pump Terrorism?

Insulin pump manufacturers should have their devices evaluated for security and not just safety, Nathanael Paul, Ph.D., a cyberspace-focused researcher at the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, told the panel March 5.

Paul announced that his team had implemented a cell phone attack simulation "that would allow us to do great harm to an individual wearing an insulin pump."

In the simulation, the security experts cloned an insulin pump remote control that allowed it to issue false commands that could lead to an overdose.

Although advisory panel members were skeptical that terrorists would target medical device users, Paul noted documented cases of homicide using insulin injections.

Because insulin pump wearers are vulnerable, he said, manufacturers could be held liable in the event of an attack if they do not consider stop-gap measures for existing devices and future design changes.

Paul said the DOE is establishing an Oak Ridge Medical Device Research Center that includes an endocrinologist, radiofrequency experts and security professionals.

Chart: Insulin Pump Terrorism?

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