What about wireless phone interference with medical equipment?
Radiofrequency energy (RF) from wireless phones can interact with some electronic devices. For this reason, FDA helped develop a detailed test method to measure electromagnetic interference (EMI) of implanted cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators from wireless telephones. This test method is now part of a standard sponsored by the Association for the Advancement of Medical instrumentation (AAMI). The final draft, a joint effort by FDA, medical device manufacturers, and many other groups, was completed in late 2000. This standard will allow manufacturers to ensure that cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators are safe from wireless phone EMI.
FDA has tested hearing aids for interference from handheld wireless phones and helped develop a voluntary standard sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). This standard specifies test methods and performance requirements for hearing aids and wireless phones so that that no interference occurs when a person uses a “compatible” phone and a “compatible” hearing aid at the same time. This standard was approved by the IEEE in 2000.
FDA continues to monitor the use of wireless phones for possible interactions with other medical devices. Should
Safety
harmful interference be found to occur, FDA will conduct testing to assess the interference and work to resolve the problem. For more information, please visit the FDA website at http://www.fda.gov/cellphones.
Emergency calls
Never rely solely upon your wireless phone for essential communications (e.g., medical emergencies), if it can be avoided, since a wireless phone requires a complex combination of radio signals, relay stations and landline networks for its operation. Consequently, emergency calls may not always be possible under all conditions on all wireless phone systems. Your wireless phone, however, may sometimes be the only available means of communication at the scene of an accident. When making an emergency call, always give the recipient all necessary information as accurately as possible. Never terminate an emergency call until you have received clearance to do so. FCC Enhanced 911 (E911) Rules
Background
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires wireless carriers to transmit specific latitude and longitude location (Automatic Location Identification = ALI) information as well as “911” calls to Public Safety
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