CPAP/SHabbos/ models

[meha...@aol.com]

It has been brought to my attention by sleep apnea patients that some
models such as Resmed autoset S8 can be put on a Shabbos clock and will
automatically start pumping as soon as the timer turns them on, others
such as the Remstar Pro will still need the buttons pressed for machine
and humidifier. Such machines, which will not start without pressing
the buttons (or can be configured to turn on automatically when the
person breathes in to them, but will still need humidifier turned on
manually), should be started before Shabbos and turned off by timer. On
a Yom Tov one may turn on before Yom Tov and then on the second night
of Yom Tov, one may press the buttons in an abnormal manner (such as
with the knuckles) "kile'achar yad"
However, it is preferable that a patient should advise the Durable
Medical Equipment supplier that they need a brand and model which is
compatible with a timer to avoid compromising Shabbos observance. Since
there are cases of untreated apnea causing sudden death, a person
should not avoid using the machine on Shabbos. The display of prssures
and so forth on an LED screen is not considered writing and is
therefore not an issue.