Study: Cellphones OK in hospitals

ROCHESTER, Minn., March 9 (UPI) -- Cell phone calls don't impact hospital medical equipment, Mayo Clinic researchers reported Friday.

The researchers said hospitals should change or abandon cell phone bans, which they said inconvenience patients and their families.

After performing 300 tests and incurring no problems, researchers said normal cell phone use caused no noticeable interference with patient care equipment. The findings were published in the March issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

The study used two cellular phones employing different carriers and technologies and 192 medical devices.

The Mayo Clinic is reviewing its cell phone ban because of the study, said study author, Dr. David Hayes of the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases.