Apple Watch Alerts Lead To Life-Saving Leukemia Diagnosis For NZ Psychiatrist

A Hawke’s Bay psychiatrist credits her Apple Watch with saving her life after the device repeatedly flagged abnormal health data. Dr. Faulkner, who has an extensive background in psychiatry and trauma care, began receiving daily alerts from her smartwatch, indicating unusual vital signs. Concerned by the persistent notifications, she visited her general practitioner and shared the smartwatch data, which clearly showed a concerning trend.

This prompt action led to urgent tests at Hastings Hospital, where within four hours, Dr. Faulkner was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML), a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer. Medical professionals advised that without immediate attention, she could have succumbed to complications from the disease within days.

The following day, she was transferred to Palmerston North Hospital, where she remains under intensive treatment. Dr. Faulkner is undergoing chemotherapy and is scheduled for a stem cell transplant in July at Wellington Hospital. The transplant, which involves replacing her bone marrow with that of a European donor, carries significant risk, including a 20% chance of mortality. Despite this, she and her husband remain optimistic about her recovery, believing that the early warning from the Apple Watch significantly increased her chances of survival.

As a trained medical professional, Faulkner is well aware of the gravity of her diagnosis but is determined to return to her full life, including caring for the 64 patients on her waiting list. Her case highlights the potential life-saving benefits of wearable technology when used in conjunction with professional healthcare.

Apple has emphasized that the Watch’s heart and health-monitoring features, approved by the FDA in 2018, are intended as screening tools rather than diagnostic instruments. However, the medical community has increasingly recognized their potential. According to Apple’s Vice President of Health, Dr. Sumbul Desai, elevated heart rates detected by smartwatches can serve as early indicators for several health issues.

Ongoing research at the University of Auckland further supports this, with studies exploring how wearable data could predict asthma attacks and other conditions. Health informatics experts suggest that such technology may shift healthcare from a reactive to a proactive model.

Dr. Faulkner’s experience serves as a compelling example of how wearable technology, combined with timely medical care, can be a powerful tool in early diagnosis and potentially life-saving intervention.

Filed in Apple >Medical. Read more about Apple, Apple Watch, Medical and Smartwatch.