We discuss how programmable analog electronics may be used to lower overall lpower consumption over traditional A-to-D-then-DSP architectures in portable medical applications. One example includes a bionic ear processor for the deaf whose power consumption is an order of magnitude below the best designs today, that will be unbeatable even at the end of Moore's law, and which will enable 30 year operation on an implanted 100mAh rechargeable battery. Another example includes an ultra low power portable pulse oximeter for measuring oxygen saturation, an important vital sign. I will discuss implications for future medical applications that are battery free and that operate by rectifying ambient RF energy, for example for cardiac monitoring. Medical applications in the future are likely to benefit greatly from ultra low power electronics especially in implanted, home care, surgical, and emergency monitoring.