Trumblog

The BBC is reporting on a study out if the Netherlands that the interference of cell phones on medical devices was lower than originally feared. The study found that while 2G cell phones did affect devices, including intensive care ventilators, dialysis machines, external pacemaker machines, feeding pumps and air humidifiers, it also found that these phones needed to be only a few centimeters away to interfere with the device and that 3G cell phones were less likely to have an effect.

The British Medical Association has maintained that there is no significant evidence linking mobiles to problems with medical devices, and said that patients would benefit from doctors being able to communicate better with colleagues while on the wards.

Evidently this issue and privacy concerns from phone cameras caused the UK to ban cell phones in hospitals. The ban was reduced earlier this year and there are doctor and patient advocates looking to eliminate it.

While the study does show that the risk is lower, there was one “hazardous” event involving a direct physical influence on the patient.

The researchers wrote: “The policy to keep mobile phones one metre from the critical care bedside seems warranted.”

In the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) advises that mobiles should be kept out of areas with sensitive medical equipment.

A spokesman said: “We recommend that mobile phones are not used in critical care areas such as intensive therapy units (ITU), special care baby units (SCBU) or where patients are attached to complex devices, as any effect on such equipment could be extremely detrimental to patient care.”

Clearly this is good news for the cell phone addicted and those of us developing mobile content for healthcare providers, I’m concerned though that this issue that did not seem to get too much press here in the US is going to become one now with this study.

Does this give me an excuse to upgrade my 2G Treo 650?

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