Cell phone bans in hospitals

Quite a few years ago Amateurs were frequently able to get permission to operate Transmitters from Hospital Wards when they were hospitalised, however, I don't know of this happening in recent years, does anyone?

Certainly hospitals have been persistant in trying to stop the use of mobile phones on the grounds of potential RFI/EMC problems and this may also have resulted in Amateur operating being stopped.

Below is an article from ARNewsline which casts doubt on the need for blanket phone bans in the USA. I understand the need for bans has also been queried at high level in this country.

73 Trevor M5AKA

According to Dr. Halamka, three years ago the school held a
conference on the subject of hospital versus cellular telephone RFI issue. Attending were some 100 engineers, the Food and Drug Administration, wireless providers and businesses.

At that meeting the group determined that cell phones only pose a threat if they are within three feet of medical equipment. So, says Dr. Halamka, the current widespread hospital restrictions on cell phone use are probably greatly overblown except at locations where phones may audibly disturb patients or staff.

So will this report ease restrictions against cellular phone use in hospitals? Probably not because no study can cover all eventualities and most hospital administrators feel it better to safe than sorry.

Click here for the full story

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