What device automatically diagnoses life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and can deliver defibrillation?

• A. Portable ECG Monitor
• B. Defibrillator
• C. AED
• D. Cardiac Monitor

Answer: (C)

An automated external defibrillator is built to both assess the heart’s rhythm and deliver a shock when a shockable, life‑threatening arrhythmia is detected, such as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. It analyzes the rhythm automatically and, if a shock is indicated, charges and delivers defibrillation, often with user prompts to guide action. This combination of automatic diagnosis and treatment sets it apart from devices that only monitor or record (like a portable ECG or cardiac monitor) and from manual defibrillators that require a clinician to interpret the rhythm and decide when to shock.