Debate about cell phones in hospitals.

[sparks19]

I carry a cell phone and rarely use it. However, if a loved one was taken to the hospital, and I was there with them, I'd rather have the option to go to a quiet spot and use the cell phone there to notify and family members, and or contact clergy.

Sparks19, maybe you and everyone in your family is healthy, count your blessings for that. Have you never had to promise an elderly relative, "Yes, Auntie, I will call X and Y and Z as soon as I get home, I promise"? That was in the days before cell phones. If I had been able to call them right that minute, she would have been less upset. Have you never dealt with being in a hospital room that doesn't have a phone assigned to it yet? How nice it would be to be able to call home using a cell phone instead.

Read my last post

While my family is actually quite healthy I do have VERY elderly grandparents and one is on her way for a hip replacement at 86 years of age. My grandfather has had a few heart attacks... it is amazing he has lived to be almost 90... My grandmother died of liver cancer at 54.... my uncle has had multiple heart attacks.... my great grandmother had diabetes... but she also lived to be 89.

I have no problem with going to a quiet area to make your call.... and like I said.... I just don't think part of a Drs job is to babysit the people who can't use a cell phone respectfully so there should be a designated cell phone area to do so where you will not run the risk of disturbing anyone. I know I would feel terrible if I were to get a call on a cell phone that played "you are my sunshine" or something right in front of a mourning family.

[Lady's Human]

Docs in a hospital don't babysit anyone but the patients they are helping.

There are many people on staff who have EXACTLY that job. Floor supervisors, orderlies, security....................


Both hospitals in this area allow cell phones inside. There are signs to "please turn off the ringer on your phone", but that's it.

I haven't seen any issues with cell phones in hospitals around here, despite spending entirely too much time in them in the last year.

[Karen]

You alternately make it sound like you want cell phones banned and you don't.

What you really want it for people to be responsible about using them, right?

I am always more in favor of people taking more personal responsibility, and less in favor of people trying to legislate against irresponsibility.

And what I meant is that you have never been the person responsible for an elderly relative, right? Not that I wish that on anyone, but I have been there, and done that.

[sparks19]

You alternately make it sound like you want cell phones banned and you don't.

What you really want it for people to be responsible about using them, right?

I am always more in favor of people taking more personal responsibility, and less in favor of people trying to legislate against irresponsibility.

And what I meant is that you have never been the person responsible for an elderly relative, right? Not that I wish that on anyone, but I have been there, and done that.

Well considering we are 9 hours away from any family.... It makes it kind of hard. Of course I always tell my momma that i will take care of her when she becomes elderly. and I will if she allows it lol.

But my feeling is that hospital staff aren't paid to follow cell phone users around to make sure they aren't being obnoxious with them (as we can all agree that many cell users are) so there should be some kind of regulation or they should not allow them in the hospital at all. I just don't see the need to risk disrupting people that are dealing with the same thing (or worse) surely you wouldn't want to be disturbed by them. Step outside... go to a designated cell phone area (if there were such a thing) and turn it off when you aren't using it or at the very least turn off the ringer. Like I said, I would feel terrible if my cell phone went off with a happy go lucky ringer while another family was sitting their torn apart.

I don't want cell phones banned entirely.... there ARE times when they are nessecary. But I just don't think whereever you feel like it in a hospital is appropriate.

LOL Wombat..... I would be disgracing everything Red heads stand for if I was complacent and agreeable LOL my husband always tells his friends that he doesn't dare mess with a redheaded Canadian chick... who is pregnant. LOL he makes it sound like I abuse him. I don't even raise my voice to him lol I just like to debate (or disagree, if you will)... it's fun lol

[Karen]

I think you are worrying needlessly. I have never seen that be an issue. And usually "when a family is being torn apart" they are in a private area, not a public one anyway, and frankly, probably wouldn't even hear the cheeriest of songs if it played next to their head.

[sparks19]

I think you are worrying needlessly. I have never seen that be an issue. And usually "when a family is being torn apart" they are in a private area, not a public one anyway, and frankly, probably wouldn't even hear the cheeriest of songs if it played next to their head.

I don't mean finding out someone didn't make it... I mean when they are in the waiting room waiting to find out what happened and why they are there. You know they are racked with worry... as would I be. Perhaps hospitals here are different... but where I am from... the waiting room is the waiting room and everyone gets stuck there waiting for news or waiting for one to get out of surgery. I certainly wouldn't want to be caught laughing during a phone call... I would feel like a schmuck.... BUT some people don't think that way and would laugh and giggle away without thinking that others around them might not appreciate the noise etc. So I think there should be a designated area for emergency cell phone use.... or a sign requesting that people that are waiting please go outside to answer a call from a friend that is calling to say hi. IMO.

[Karen]

I have never been in a hospital where everyone waits in the same area. I guess that is the advantage of living in a major metropolitan area, but Emergency is separate from Surgery is separate from Maternity, etc.

[sparks19]

I have never been in a hospital where everyone waits in the same area. I guess that is the advantage of living in a major metropolitan area, but Emergency is separate from Surgery is separate from Maternity, etc.

OH well in that sense YES there are different waiting rooms. Emergency is not the same as the waiting room for admitted patients but when I had to have my unfortunate surgery my friend was my driver (of course this was in and out in the same day) and she was in a general waiting room... not emergency but a general waiting room for admitted patients not just surgery. Maternity is also a different area. I think.

Now the hospital I will be delivering at... I dont know because it is apparently a very small hospital.... it is in a small town about a half hour away from here. so I don't know how many different waiting rooms they have but maternity is on a totally different floor as far as I know and the waiting room is on the same floor I think.