October 14, 2005
Cell Phones Interfere Less With Medical Devices
A study by researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., found that cell phones' electromagnetic interference with medical devices may have lessened as technology improves, reports Click on Detroit.
"Researchers found that the phones did not interfere with medical devices that were more than 3 feet away. Most hospitals have signs asking patients and visitors not to use their cell phones because they may interfer with devices such as monitors and respirators
In the study, 44 percent of the medical devices recorded some interference from the cell phones, but a majority of the interference did not significantly pertain to the patient. The researchers said more study will be needed as technology continues to change.
The findings entitled "Cellular Telephone Interference With Medical Equipment" are presented in the October issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings."
Related articles:
-- Hospitals Ease Cellphone Bans - As the Federal Communications Commission revisits rules against cellphone use on airplanes, hospitals are rethinking their own policies on the devices.
-- Handsets Cause Glitch in Medical Equipment, argue Korean Researchers - As hospitals around the world are relaxing cell phone rules, a group of Korean researchers argued that handsets are likely to cause wrong diagnosis in hospitals.
-- Handsets Cause Glitch in Medical Equipment, argue Korean Researchers - As hospitals around the world are relaxing cell phone rules, a group of Korean researchers argued that handsets are likely to cause wrong diagnosis in hospitals.
-- Singapore Hospital may allow use of mobile phones - Tan Tock Seng Hospital may allow mobile phones to be used around the hospital - even in operating theatres
-- Hospital mobile phone laws relax - UK Hospital could lift bans on mobile phone use following updated guidance by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
-- Hospital to permit cell phone usage - Fukuoka's Kyushu University Hospital says that it has started permitting patients to use their cellphones while in hospital.
-- Doctors want ban lifted on mobiles in hospitals - Doctors have called for mobile phone bans in hospitals to be lifted.
The Permanent Link to this page is: http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/2005/10/010251.htm