Decommission

Devices that store patient data need decommissioning instructions, so users know how to remove that data before disposal or resale.

a process in the disposition process that includes proper identification, authorization for disposition, and sanitization of the equipment, as well as removal of Patient Health Information (PHI) or software, or both.

FDA guidance: Cybersecurity in Medical Devices: Quality Management System Considerations and Content of Premarket Submissions (February 2026), Appendix 5, Terminology