Another Reason for the "No Cell Phones" Hospital Policy

Anybody whose ever been in a hospital has seen the "No Cell Phones Allowed" signs, and the nice nurse explains that the policy is enforced because electronics can interfere with the life support equipment.

But I think that it this goes much deeper than just looking out for that poor guy down the hall on the external pacemaker.

I hypothesize that cell phone usage is directly related to an immediate loss of rational decision making and prioritizing.

For Example:

As an EMT on an ambulance, we came upon a young Motorcyclist who had gone down on the freeway. He had no obvious injuries, but they don't call them "donor bikes" for nothing. He was at very high risk for a hidden lethal injury.

"Hello, I am an EMT, may I help you?"

Shaken up and unable to decide whether to let me help him or not, he pulled out his cell phone and called his mother.

"Uhh, mom, I just crashed my bike on the freeway. Should I let this EMT help me?"

His mother was equally confused, and explained the details of the crash to her, wasting precious minutes while he could be bleeding internally. He eventually refused care because his mother said he "sounded fine."

This is a perfect example of what happens when someone who could have made a competent decision about medical care decided to pick up the cell phone. His IQ careened like a roller coaster off that first plunge.

Sure, we have patient courtesy phones in the hospital, but I don't thing that they have the same neuron-stunning power that is wielded in the tiny cell phone.

Imagine the craziness:

"Mrs. Martinez, two of your coronary arteries are 95% blocked, and one is completely blocked. You need immediate emergency cardiac bypass surgery or your heart attack will worsen to certain death within a few hours."

Ring Ring Ring! La La La! Ring Ring La La! Oh no.

Mrs. Martinez picks up that insidious electronic menace, "Oh hi Maria! Yeah, about our Family Reunion in three years, oh you know you want to be on the food planning committee honey! You always make the best enchiladas...