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Should mobile phones be allowed in hospitals?

February 26, 2003

Researchers from Imperial College London are calling for a review of the ban on mobile phone use in UK hospitals, in today's Lancet.

Dr Omer Aziz at St Mary's hospital comments: "In the ten years since the ban on mobile phone use in hospitals came into force, there is still no evidence of any real risk to patients. In fact it seems that the ban is based not on real evidence, but purely on a precautionary approach.

"With this in mind, it is extremely difficult to justify a ban on mobile phones in hospitals in terms of patient safety."

The researchers also point out that mobile phones have evolved greatly since the ban was introduced. Studies have shown that the newer phones (Digital Global System Mobile) interfere less with medical equipment than their predecessors. Some groups have suggested that mobile phones may be used even in critical care units provided that they are kept one metre apart from medical devices.

Around 80 percent of households own at least one mobile phone, and the ban on usage in hospitals is regularly flouted by patients, their relatives and medical staff.

Dr Aziz adds: "Even when on hospital premises, many consultants prefer to be contacted by mobile phone, with some hospitals having issued registrars with mobile phones so they can be contacted directly by general practitioners.

Professor Ara Darzi, from Imperial College London at St Mary's hospital adds: "The absence of any real evidence of risk to patient safety, coupled with advances in handhold technology, should cause hospital trusts and their advisory bodies to reappraise the current restriction against mobile phone use in hospitals."

Since the early 1990s, hospitals in the UK have had a ban on the use of mobile phones on their premises, following a warning from the Medical Risks Agency, highlighting the possible risks of mobile phones inadvertently interfering with medical equipment.

Imperial College, University of London

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