The invention is firstly related to an apparatus for the remote control of a medical apparatus, comprising a wireless communication device for enabling said remote control, wherein the remote control enable device and the remote control device as such are incorporated in a common hand-held housing. The remote control enable device comprises a transmitter and one or more switches, actuatable by enable buttons. The buttons allow an operator to close the switch(es), which causes the sending by the transmitter of a status signal, i.e. a signal related to the status (open or closed) of the switch or switches, to a receiver that is configured to communicate said status signal to a control unit. The control unit verifies the signal on a number of criteria. When all required criteria have been met, remote control of the medical apparatus is allowed, said remote control being actuated from the remote control device. The invention is secondly related to an apparatus wherein the remote control enable device is equipped with a means to maintain the power supply to a transmitting chip sufficiently long upon opening a switch so that a check can be performed on the correct functioning of the switch after the switch has been opened.
