Using mobile phones in hospitals: Risks were worth running during SARS epidemic

doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7517.637

BMJ 2005;331:637 (17 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7517.637

Letter

Using mobile phones in hospitals

Risks were worth running during SARS epidemic

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Editor—Highlighting Taffinder's personal view in her Editor'sChoice, Godlee asks whether there is evidence that the use ofmobile phones in hospitals is dangerous¹². The question of mobiletelephones in hospitals, or more importantly in critical clinicalareas, remains one of balancing risks with benefits. Portersin my hospital carry walkie-talkies to aid communication, andthey just take more care using these when they have to enterthe intensive care unit.

The electromagnetic interference of mobile phones and walkie-talkiespales into insignificance in comparison with surgical diathermy,yet we still allow surgeons to use this procedure in operatingtheatres, even with concurrent, critical electronic monitoringof anaesthetised patients. No mobile phone can hope to competewith this power output (routinely 30 W or more for the surgeonsI work with). We just make sure that the relevant precautionsand procedures relating to electronic equipment (including,but not limited to, . . . [Full text of this article]

Peter K K Au-Yeung, specialist anaesthetist

Yan Chai Hospital, Tsuen Wan, New Territories, Hong Kong lovpetay@netvigator.com