Don't yap on your cell in a hospital

The tests were done to see what effect electromagnetic interference (EMI) has on hospital equipment.

Signals that were equal in strength to those given off by second- and third-generation mobile phones significantly interfered with medical devices, and the study’s authors categorized 75% of those incidents as “hazardous,” meaning that the interference had a direct impact on patient health, or “significant,” indicating that it distracted health care providers.

These tests were actually not done with mobile phones, but rather with a signal generator which mimic that of a cell phone. This is actually being generous. The power used by a mobile phone varies depending on how far you are from a cell tower and how interfered the signal is. Since hospitals are thick with concrete, mobile phones might be operating with a greater intensity, meaning that there is a greater risk of doing damage to hospital equipment.

“It’s possible that in many hospitals there is low coverage because of the concrete in the building, and it’s possible that your mobile phone is transmitting like hell to get in contact with the base station.”

There are regulations in place on cell phone usage in hospitals, but the widespread use of the devices has made that difficult to enforce. It becomes even more difficult when doctors are using them, too. This study is contradictory to one conducted earlier this year, published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Currently, May Clinic bans cell phones from areas where invasive procedures are being performed, but they’d like to lift that ban. This new study may put those plans on hold, but the ban still could be lifted in the near future.

“Our goal is to allow cell phone use everywhere but in pediatric and neonatal intensive care units and surgery because we have not done testing in those areas.”

We have to ask: why? With conflicting research studies, every precaution still needs to be made. We understand that some people in hospitals — doctors included — rely on their cell phones, sometimes as lifelines. However, if you’re yapping with cousin Nancy, get off the damn phone! [TIME]]]>