What must be true for electrical grounding in a medical setting?

In a medical setting, electrical grounding must be isolated from other systems to ensure patient safety and minimize the risk of electrical interference. An isolated grounding system prevents noise or disturbances from other electrical devices from affecting sensitive medical equipment, such as electroencephalograms (EEG). This is crucial because any electrical interference could compromise the accuracy of diagnostic readings and potentially pose safety risks.

Isolating the grounding system allows for a clear return path for fault currents and minimizes the risk of shock or equipment malfunctions. It also helps maintain the integrity of the signals being measured, which is vital for effective patient monitoring and treatment.

Other options do not align with best practices in medical electrical safety. Sharing grounding between devices can create ground loops, which can introduce noise. Avoiding grounding altogether is unsafe and increases the risk of electrical shock or equipment failure. Combining grounding with other safety systems may not provide the desired isolation needed for sensitive medical devices.