The Mayo Clinic reports that cellular phones have no negative impact on hospital medical devices. Three hundred tests were performed and there was not one single problem. Hopefully hospitals will now lift their ban on cell use in hospitals.

But other devices do cause problems. Studies have shown that a portable CD player being held by a patient caused an abnormal ECG recording. When the CD player was turned off, the ECG recording returned to normal.

More serious problems are being reported with the anti-theft monitors that stores use at their exits to detect shoplifting by sounding an alarm. During two incidents, these devices have been shown to cause pacemakers and defibrillators to malfunction. Both patients had to be taken to the emergency room for treatment. Stores are being asked to move these devices to areas where shoppers do not congregate. Employees should be trained to move collapsed customers away from the anti-theft devices. This could save lives.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive