Cell Phones Do Not Interfere with Hospital Equipment

Cell phones do not interfere with medical equipment when used normally in patient care areas of hospitals, according to a study in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
The investigators used phones from two different cellular carriers in patient rooms containing a total of 192 medical devices, such as ECG monitors, ventilators and ultrasound imaging machines. In 300 tests, they found no instances of interference. Two Blackberries tested 40 times near 24 medical devices caused no problems either.
"For institutions that have restricted cellular telephone use, these data support revision or abolition of the existing policy," the study concluded.
An editorialist suggests that "it would be appropriate for the FDA to take a more explicit stand that [interference] is unlikely to occur in a hospital setting and that internal regulations in health care facilities should reflect that fact."

http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.com/Abstract.asp?AID=4308&Abst=Abstract&UID=