Somewhere between a decimal place and half a heart attack.
11-09-11: Ngjockey
LOL, though actually 5ma of AC current passing through the heart will not kill or cause heart damage. At least NEC code doesn't think so.
5ma is the maximum amount of leakage current,("consisting of possible resistive and capacitive leakage currents"), for the audible alarm to sound for a Line Isolation Monitor for an AC Power Isolation System found in Health Care facilities in; OR, Cath Labs, and ER rooms where electrical monitoring equipment and such may be connected to a patient. (Also required ma meter. Green light for normal, red light for alarm condition.)
2011 NEC 517.160 (B) (1) (2) (3)
Notice I said alarm, the power is not interrupted.
Though I would assume the doctor or techs in the room would disconnect the medical equipment from the patient in a timely manner or at least monitor the milliamp meter.... Don't know the answer to that one...
Also per NEC a GFCI is supposed to trip open around 5ma of current when detected between the hot to earth ground/earth grounded object. (GFCI senses more than just the hot to earth ground for its operation).
The problem with UL they only test new appliances as far as I know of. New at normal operating temperatures.
Not necessary the case in the real world.
As you know heat will degrade the insulting resistive covering the conductors of motors and transformer windings. Over heating, excessive overheating, caused from ambient temperatures or over working of the appliance can cause a break down of the insulation and result in more leakage or worse case a short.
http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2000/JackHsu.shtml