Fukuoka's Kyushu University Hospital says that it has started permitting patients to use their cellphones while in hospital. The decision was actually taken last October but only recently confirmed by the hospital.
The decision is controversial as cell phones are believed to have the potential to interfere with medical equipment, although the hospital says that in six months of use, no problems have been reported.
"Taking into account the feelings of the inpatients and convenience to the outpatients, the positives (of allowing cell phone use) outweighed the negatives," said Masao Tanaka, assistant director at the hospital.
Cellphones are still banned in the intensive care unit and operating theatres however."
Posted to the site on 29th March 2004
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/10927.php