A method is disclosed for protecting a medical device against unauthorized removal from a predefined location area. To this end the device to be protected and/or at least one further device in the predefined location area transmits protection signals. The protection signals transmitted by the device to be protected and/or the protection signals received by the device to be protected are then evaluated and a specific operating state of the device to be protected is activated as a function of a result of the evaluation. A corresponding system for protecting a medical device and a medical device for use with such a protection method or system is also described.