Debate about cell phones in hospitals.

[sparks19]

Wow, I thought Sparks and her husband thought more rules would lead to the soul-sucking government to turn us all into robots. Careful, banning cell phones in hospitals will ultimately turn us into government-controlled slaves! It's a slippery slope.

Seriously...I worked in a hospital for quite a while, and I have never once seen a doctor or nurse need to tell a patient or family member or ANYONE, to turn off their cell phone. If a cell phone was the most annoying distraction in a hospital, wouldn't we all be lucky?

AH but you see.... it is actually the removal of a rule Besides... It shouldn't have to be a rule... it should just be respect for the patients and their families. just like at the movies.... you don't find it sad that they have to TELL people to turn off their ringers? LOL isn't that just common sense? I just don't get what happened to that these days. They don't tell you not to talk during a movie... most people just GET that and refrain from talking (I say most lol not all) but they have to actually tell people to turn off their ringers? lol but I always like to tell those people that if they would like to discuss the movie while it's on perhaps they should consider renting

it's like commercials that say "cars cannot actually drive on buildings" I'm amazed they have to say these things. people don't just know that? lol

it makes me giggle inside just a little

[Lady's Human]

How is banning cell phones in hospitals the removal of a rule?

[Karen]

When have you been to the movies last? I cannot remember a time when the trailers at the theater didn't include a "don"t add your own sound track" bit.

[sparks19]

When have you been to the movies last? I cannot remember a time when the trailers at the theater didn't include a "don"t add your own sound track" bit.

This weekend. Twice.

LOL it was actually a funny "commercial" a guy was begging his girl not to break up with him on his cell phone and a director comes into the picture (can't remember the directors name... it was like Sydney or something) and starts giving him direction on how to beg for his g/f back convincingly.... then the guy says to his g/f "um.... I gotta call you right back" and the director says "Oh I'm sorry is my directing interfering with your phone call"

LOL then it flashes up on the screen... we don't wreck your phone calls with our movies... please don't wreck our movies with your phone calls.

haha it was a funny commercial actually.

Hey and when did they start putting commercials at the beginning of movies lol not just previews but REAL commercials lol

LH, because cell phones were allowed to be on in hospitals because they once "thought" it interfered with the equipment.... that is how this thread started. LOL

[Lady's Human]

The Rule was a ban of cellphones due to possible interference with hospital electronics.

The REMOVAL of the rule would be allowing cell phones to be used. (As is currently the practice. As evidence of this being the removal of a rule rather than creating a new rule, they simply removed the signs at our local hospital which advised people to turn off their cell phones. No new signs were posted)

Banning cellphones again would be REINSTATEMENT of a rule, not removal.

[sparks19]

The Rule was a ban of cellphones due to possible interference with hospital electronics.

The REMOVAL of the rule would be allowing cell phones to be used. (As is currently the practice. As evidence of this being the removal of a rule rather than creating a new rule, they simply removed the signs at our local hospital which advised people to turn off their cell phones. No new signs were posted)

Banning cellphones again would be REINSTATEMENT of a rule, not removal.

*sigh*

What I meant was.... the rule shouldn't have been removed as it was... they should still have signs requesting people turn off their cell phones....at the very least their ringers and to have the courtesy to only use it when nessecary.

but again... this shouldn't have to be a rule. People should just have the courtesy to not have their ringers on or answer just any phone call from any Tom dick and harry. If you MUST use it for emergency FINE. but keep the ringer off and let unimportant calls go to voicemail. If you want to have a casual convo then you should go outside... it shouldn't have to be a rule you should just do it out of sheer respect for others around you in the hospital.

Now what if they find later that they were wrong and cell phones do cause some interference with the machines... although I've actually heard it is really the other way around.... apparently the machines do a number on the battery of the cell phones according to an EMT friend.

[Daisy and Delilah]

As far as I know(after working at a plant that built cellphone parts for 10 years), cellphones run on radio frequency. At least they did when I worked at that job. What hospital machines would they be affecting supposedly? Is this affecting equipment the same as in an airplane? Just curious.

If this is the case, and machines were being affected, why would they just be discovering it recently?

[Lady's Human]

The worry with cellphones in hospitals was twofold.

One, the signals from the older, higher power analog phones did cause disruption in sensitive computer circuits. This would cause interference with medical monitors, as most med monitors are specialized computers. As cell phones are now using much lower powered digital signals, this is no longer a concern.


Some hospitals use wireless systems, and there was minor concern about interference with the wireless systems in use. Completely different frequencies, not a problem.

Hence the lift of the ban.

[sparks19]

The worry with cellphones in hospitals was twofold.

One, the signals from the older, higher power analog phones did cause disruption in sensitive computer circuits. This would cause interference with medical monitors, as most med monitors are specialized computers.

two, hospitals use wireless systems, and there was concern about interference with the wireless systems in use. (completely different frequencies, not a problem)

there you go D and D that should answer your question. i dont know what specific equipment they were worried about though

[sparks19]

As far as I know(after working at a plant that built cellphone parts for 10 years), cellphones run on radio frequency. At least they did when I worked at that job. What hospital machines would they be affecting supposedly? Is this affecting equipment the same as in an airplane? Just curious.

If this is the case, and machines were being affected, why would they just be discovering it recently?

They aren't just discovering it recently.... I was just saying.

I don't know what machines specifically but it's some of the monitors or something like that that they thought for years cell phones interfered with... that was why you were supposed to shut your phone off in the hospital. it was thought that it interfered with some of their equipment. then just recently (at least here anyway) some hospitals decided it wasn't true... other hospitals still believe it is possible and still tell you to turn off your cell phone.