Authentication of shock therapy deferral

A shock deferral system comprising:

• a defibrillator configured to sense patient physiological measures, communicate a notification of impending shock, and deliver shock therapy;
• and
• a bi-directional communication device configured to receive a notification of impending shock from the defibrillator and configured to send an instruction to defer the impending shock to the defibrillator;
• an authentication interface configured to receive authentication data from a user;
• a user instruction interface configured to receive the instruction to defer the impending shock from the user;
• and
• an authentication device configured to receive the authentication data from the authentication interface, and authenticate the user based on the authentication data;
• wherein the defibrillator is configured to defer, for a deferral time, the impending shock upon authentication by the authentication device and receipt of the instruction to defer the shock, wherein the authentication interface and the user instruction interface are portable by an ambulatory patient;
• wherein the authentication device is configured to calculate the remaining deferral time, wherein the remaining deferral time is a difference between the deferral time and a time elapsed since receiving an instruction from the user to defer the impending shock therapy;
• wherein the authentication interface is configured to display the remaining deferral time.

A method comprising:

• relaying a notification of impending shock therapy from a defibrillator to a user interface, wherein the user interface is portable by an ambulatory patient;
• receiving authentication data from a user through an authentication interface in response to relaying the notification;
• authenticating the user with the received authentication data;
• receiving an instruction from the user to defer the impending shock therapy through a user input device;
• sending the received instruction to the defibrillator to defer, for a deferral time, the impending shock therapy upon authentication;
• and
• after sending the received instruction to the defibrillator to defer, communicating a remaining deferral time, wherein the remaining deferral time is a difference between the deferral time and a time elapsed since receiving an instruction from the user to defer the impending shock therapy.