So Dave is really going to do it.

He's going to get a tattoo next weekend.

I'm glad I didn't come of age in a time when tattoos were a "rite of passage". Perfectly normal young people who would consider tattoos to be an unacceptable insult to their bodies become enamored with the idea right around their 18th birthday. What a coincidence: when you turn 18 in New York State, you can legally go get yourself a tattoo. And many do.

Of course I "googled" the relative safety of getting a tattoo if you happen to have an implanted defibrillator in your chest. The results were mixed. Apparently some of the equipment used in the process of applying the paint contain magnets but pose no greater danger than, say, your cell phone. Keep it 6 inches from your ICD and you'll be fine, they say. Others seem to think that the wise thing to do is to skip it. But that information was probably written by an OLD PERSON. (You know, over 50.)

I'll post a photo of Dave's tattoo here next week. Dave, send me a photo, will you?

I caught most of a television interview this morning with Dr. Ramon Brugada. He was answering questions about Brugada Syndrome and implantable defibrillators. ICDs are the treatment of choice, but there are places in the world where they are simply too expensive an option. So research is continuing to find a more affordable treatment. He said administering quinidine is being considered as an alternate to having an ICD implanted. Unfortunately it currently has a 20% no-effect rate which is way too high. Dr. Brugada said he would not replace the ICD with quinidine in most circumstances.

At the end of the interview, the moderator asked Dr. Brugada what advice he offers the average person regarding Brugada Syndrome, and Dr. Brugada said that if a young healthy person dies in your family and the cause of death is not apparent, the family should see their doctor to investigate whether or not they might have Brugada Syndrome, but otherwise, this isn't the kind of thing that one should worry needlessly about.

I like Dr. Brugada and his reassuring approach to healthcare management for this condition. I also defer to his experience and knowledge on the topic. Perhaps concerns that I expressed in an earlier post may be unwarranted. Still, I know that when I hear of someone with unexplained spells of blacking out, or an episode of SIDS in the family, I always suggest that an ECG be reviewed to rule out Brugada Syndrome. But that's just me.