Wednesday, June 13, 2012

DoT: Mobiles can harm pacemakers


Publication: The Times Of India Mumbai; Date:2012 Feb 09; Section:Times Nation; Page Number 13


DoT: Mobiles can harm pacemakers

TIMES NEWS NETWORK
New Delhi: People with medical implants like pacemakers must not keep their cellphones in their shirt pockets.
The latest directive by the department of telecommunication (DoT) says that “people having active medical implants should preferably keep the cellphone at least 15cm away from the implant.”
An office memorandum, circulated by the ministry of communications and IT on January 25, says manufacturer’s mobile handset booklets will have to contain the safety precaution. “Necessary changes in the design and packaging for compliance with this instruction will have to be in place on or before September 1,” MoS for communications and IT Sachin Pilot told TOI. Senior cardiologist at Escorts Heart Research Centre Dr Aparna Jaswal said it is safe for patients with implants to talk on a cellphone, but they
must avoid placing it directly over the pacemaker implantation site when the device is turned on.
“The pacemaker could misinterpret the cellphone signal as a heartbeat and withhold pacing, producing symptoms such as sudden fatigue,” Dr Jaswal said.

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