A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) (10) and method (60) comprise a set of electrodes (12) for placement on a subject (14), a mechanism for electrically engaging (16) the set of electrodes to the subject's skin, and at least one non-invasive physiologic sensor (18, 20) configured for placement on the subject. A controller (24) monitors an output of the non-invasive physiologic sensor (18, 20) for detecting a change in a health parameter of the subject being indicative of one or more of a change in subject condition that may be a precursor to potential cardiac arrhythmia or a simultaneously occurring cardiac arrhythmia. Responsive to detecting the change, the controller (24) activates an alarm (26) for requesting a response from the subject (14) within a predetermined time. Responsive to receiving the subject's response within the predetermined time, the controller (24) inhibits the mechanism (16) from electrically engaging the set of electrodes (12) to the subject's skin. Responsive to not receiving the subject's response, the controller (24) initiates the mechanism (16) for electrically engaging the set of electrodes (12) to the subject's skin.
