Here are a couple of interesting (and to my mind, still pertinent) extracts from the document (Chapter) cited above:-
"This electrical safety issue has, however, performed a useful catalytic function in drawing attention to other problems associated with the use of technology for health care. It has helped hospitals to understand the broader needs for engineering support of patient care, including the judicious purchase, inspection, and preventive maintenance of medical equipment."
" ... there has developed little evidence to support fears that silent electrocution is a common occurrence" but that fear has led to the discarding of useful equipment in favour of "safety featured gadgetry at much greater costs. Bureaucrats and inspectors, whose good intentions exceed their knowledge, insist that clinical areas be festooned with green wires like charms to ward off evil spirits. And isolation transformers and fancy wiring are foisted upon the medical consuming public at great expense."
Dr. Bruner also pointed out all those years ago that:- "Electrocution occurs when, and only when, an individual becomes the component that closes the circuit in which a lethal current can flow". Fair enough.
To answer your original question, Mike ... if you read the Chapter I have indicated you will see how the famous "1,200 deaths a year" estimate arose, and how it has been
massaged over the years by folk pursuing various agendas. Names are given, but I won't repeat them here.
