I am a Former Zoll employee/former ICD employee. The best way to answer your question is there is no proven scientific data to show that the LV is going to help you! The study from 2011 is still ongoing with no end in sight. The best way to put it is the LifeVest is like buying the extra car insurance when you rent a car. Your physician should present this to you as an option, an option that is extra protection. The life vest currently has a 1% save rate. It is not standard of care and is sold using scare tactics. The basis of Mandrolas article was to say that he doesn't deem it a necessary nor should it be considered a standard of care. Your physician is prescribing this device so if god forbid you do have an arrhythmia that requires you to be shocked he is covered when your family asks "Did you to everything you could to help my father?" Thats it, your doctor is covering his ass. At this moment he cannot put an ICD in you due to guidelines so he is covering his ass and prescribing an extra layer of protection for you in the off chance that you do have an arrhythmia. The same way the extra insurance is sold on the brand new Samsung TV. Have an intelligent conversation with your doctor and ask him "How many of your patients have been saved using this device?" Have a conversation with your family as well, only you and they know your actual situation, explain to them that this device is an extra layer of protection and see if they think you can handle the stress that comes with wearing this device. As far as the BBB goes Zoll is a poorly run company so those claims could really be anything as they do have horrible customer service and tech support has no idea what they are talking about and often mis diagnosis an arrhythmia. As far as the insurance goes here is an inside tip, you will not be billed until you actually get fit and sign a patient agreement. If you refuse the fit and you do not let the technician put the device on your body YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED!
I think the life vest has a place in the market strictly with ICD explant patients as well as patients that have been offered the device and explained that it is strictly an extra layer of protection. If it makes you and your family feel better to wear the device then wear it. Most patients think it is mandatory and leave the hospital with it and are miserable within a few days, said patient then calls the doctor complains and 9 times out of 10 the doc says "take it off, its your choice."
Hope this is helpful to you and your family, best of luck!
