ACR MLG ACFT CARRIED PAX WITH A 'BLOOD STIMULATOR.'

Narrative

ABOUT 12 MINS BEFORE DEP; THE LEAD FLT ATTENDANT ASKED IF IT WAS OK FOR A PAX TO USE HIS 'BLOOD STIMULATOR' IN FLT. IN A BRIEF DISCUSSION WITH THE FLT ATTENDANT; I PERCEIVED THE DEVICE TO BE SOMETHING LIKE A HEART PACE MAKER. I TOLD THE FLT ATTENDANT THAT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE OK; BUT I ASKED THE COPLT TO CALL FLT DISPATCH TO VERIFY THAT IT WAS OK. FLT DISPATCH WAS HAVING XMITTER PROBLEMS; AND WE WERE NOT ABLE TO CONTACT THEM BEFORE DEP TIME. DEP; ENRTE; AND DEST WX WERE FORECAST TO BE VMC; AND SINCE I FELT THAT THE DEVICE WAS PROBABLY VERY SIMILAR TO A PACEMAKER; WE DEPARTED WITHOUT FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH THE FLT ATTENDANT. THE COPLT AGREED WITH THIS DECISION. WE DEPARTED ON SCHEDULE; THE WX WAS CLR ALL THE WAY TO DTW; AND THE FLT WAS COMPLETELY UNEVENTFUL. REVIEWING MY DECISION DURING THE FOLLOWING CREW REST; I DECIDED I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THE DEVICE WAS; NOR DID I HAVE THE AUTHORITY OR EXPERTISE TO ALLOW THE USE OF ANY ELECTRONIC DEVICE THAT WASN'T SPECIFICALLY APPROVED IN MY FLT OPS MANUAL. I THINK I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN MORE INFO DIRECTLY FROM THE INDIVIDUAL USING THE DEVICE; AND IF IT WAS TRULY NEEDED IN FLT FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES; CLRED IT WITH THE COMPANY PRIOR TO DEP. I'LL MAKE A BETTER DECISION NEXT TIME.