Maria Vasquez

Joenn Lee
March 19, 2010

OOBUNTA HOSPITAL CASE STUDY – MOBILE PHONES

- BACKGROUND
Mobile phones,
- Everyone knows what they are and how they work.
Now-a-days, almost everyone has access to a mobile
phone. A widespread public concern about health risks
for using mobile phones has arisen. “Some scientific
studies have linked use of mobiles to headaches,
memory loss and cancer, while the industry claims that
they are perfectly safe.”1 The United States of America
government is aware that they have to invest on these
studies of mobile phones being a health hazard, to
prove their and everyone using mobile phone safety.

The United States is searching for possible links between cell phone radiation and health
problems, including cancer. “Also motivated by
citizens’ health concerns, several European
countries have instituted new policies for sitting
of mobile base stations, based on the
precautionary principle.”2 Common health risks of
using mobile phones are headaches when talking
for long a long time, and taking more time to
respond to something after using their cell phone.
- Also using the celphone (either talking, text
messaging, hearing music) is a distraction when
driving, and this can cause health problems. In
fact, it is illegal for bus drivers to text while driving as they put in risk the life of many
people. Yet this problem continues in all people, mostly in young people. “AT&T is joining
in the fight to educate people about the dangers of texting while operating a vehicle” 3,
shows that it is a concern, and that mobile phones not always bring benefits.

Yet there are no real studies that prove this, so cell phones are still being sold, and used by
millions of people.

12
, Are mobile phones a health hazard? , http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/314363.stm
2

3
AT&T Warns Teens: Don’t Text and Drive, http://mashable.com/2010/03/08/att-texting-driving/
Maria Vasquez
Joenn Lee
March 19, 2010

- REAL LIFE EXAMPLE

Maria Vasquez
Joenn Lee
March 19, 2010
Maria Vasquez
Joenn Lee
March 19, 2010

- HEALTH IMPACTS

Some positive impacts are the following:

- They are able to use mobile phones for emergencies. For example, if people are sick, they
can call to the hospital or the doctor

- They can use a cellphone note pad to remember to take medications

- Alarm can be set for people to remember to take their medicines

- Health and Wellness Help from doctors/nurses to patients. They can deliver personalized
text messages that help a person with dieting, remembering to take medications, etc.

- Safety, in case of any emergency, they can use their cell phone.

- Convenience as you can communicate quickly and effectively.

Disadvantages of mobile cell phone uses are related to mental health because a there was a
case study that found a link between low self-esteem and problem cell phone use. A study
measuring the link between cell phones and mental health found that teens who used cell
phones the most were more likely to be anxious and depressed. Also, mobile cell phones can
be used for bullying as text messaging is increasing used by bullies to torment their victims.
Cyber bullying, psychological harassment in text or instant messaging, is more often
perpetrated by girls, who initiate inappropriate messages or spread damaging gossip. In
addition eye strain and “digital thumb” problems might appear because just like other
repetitive strain injuries that can result from computer use and other repetitive tasks, these
conditions can result from focusing continually on a small screen and typing on small buttons.
Talking too much on the phone can cause and increase in bacteria because of the close
proximity to the mouth where germs can be passed from breathing, coughing and sneezing,
most cell phones are crawling with bacteria. Additionally, many people use their phone
everywhere, even in the bathroom.

A lot of people have heard also about brain tumors and low sperm counts because some
research investigating the effects of electromagnetic radiation from cell phones in close
proximity to the body have found statistical associations, other studies have found no
increased risk. As we know many kids and in some cases adults relate to lack of sleep because
one study found that some teen cell phone users are likely to be woken at night by incoming
text messages or calls, and are therefore more likely to be tired and less able to focus
throughout the day not to mention that it causes headaches. What about the people who lack
of knowledge about how to use a cell phone? This turns out to be time consuming, teaching
Maria Vasquez
Joenn Lee
March 19, 2010

the ways a cell phone can be used and therefore kids, teens and adults can misuse the cell
phone.

Interesting point is that the use of mobile phones can cause memory loss, because of the
radiation. It delays the effectiveness of how fast someone can think. Furthermore, it is globally
known that in the majority of cases it cases car crash accidents which lead to death. The
radiation of the cellphone also degrades white blood cells which in long term will affect health
negatively.

These following to citations state some risks:

“Health Risks With Cell Phones: Brain Cancer
At this point, research scientists do not believe that cell phones cause brain cancer. This theory
is based on a study completed by the National Cancer Institute that did not show an increase
in brain cancer cases for those who used cell phones versus those who did not use them”
"The one effect he did find was that choice reaction times were reduced by four per cent after
exposure to radiation from analogue mobile phones, but this contrasts with other studies
which have found a 20% variation in reaction times when no mobile phone usage has been
involved.”

ETHICAL ISSUES

 Equality of access:

When talking about ethical issues, equality of access comes to it. We need to think that not
everyone has access to a cell phone, so not everyone is able to make use of this technology that
can be so helpful and at the same time is considered to be a problem. When relating equality of
access of using mobile cell phones with health, we can say that it is not fair for those people who
have a cell phone and those who cant afford to have one. As people who have a cell phone can
communicate in case of any health emergency, make use of it to remind to take pills, or to attend
to any appointment, etc, but those who don’t have a cell phone don’t have the benefit of doing
the same.

And who is it to blame? I think we can’t blame anyone. We know that all the governments, are not
able and don’t have the money to provide every citizen a cell phone. I think that anyone who
wants a cell phone needs to work for it, to earn it and to make use of it.

Applying equality of access to Oobunta:

Oobunta is a very poor region, where not everyone has access to a cell phone. In case Dr.
Ogola provides the hospital and every patient with a cell phone to keep connected, and make
life easier for the patients, what happens to the other people who have not been provided a
cell phone? What happens if they get sick, how will they be able to call to the hospital, or to
Maria Vasquez
Joenn Lee
March 19, 2010

emergencies? They can’t. So I think that this is not fair for the other people who might not
have any health problems, as health problems might arise from one day to another.

Who’s responsibility is it? I think the government should consider providing every family or
one household a cell phone so that everyone can be connected to everyone, and help each
other. For example, a member from a poor family, who lives in Village C, feels sick. They don’t
want to travel to Oobunta hospital as they don’t have an appointment, and when they have
gone, the hospital cant attend them as spaces are full, so they have had to go back to their
home with the sick person. If this family is provided a cell phone, then they are able to talk to
the hospital to make an appointment, or call a doctor and ask what medication this person can
take.

- APPLY TO CASE STUDY

Providing mobile cell phones to doctors and patients in Oobunta would be useful because as we
mentioned previously one of the advantages is that mobile phones will allow communication in
between patients and doctors/hospital. For instance if patients have an emergency they can call
without the need of visiting nearby Oobunta hospital or clinics. Moreover, another benefit is that
mobile phones have a convergence allowing patients to make use of notepads and alarm in order
to remember to take medications or attend to pending appointments.

Also health and wellness help can be provided by doctors because these mobile cell phones can
play the role of a computer by delivering personalized text messages to the patients who have no
access to a computer. It is worth mentioning that text messaging through cell phones do not
require internet access and they are easy to carry as they are portable.

Moreover, it will be very efficient for elder people, to use speed dial application, as we know this
can save anyone’s life, and for elder people this will be a huge benefit because they don’t tend to
remember the telephone numbers, with the use of a speed dial with one only touch they will be
able to communicate with the hospital and the ambulances can arrive quickly to save their lives.

Another advantage is that the use of the cell phone avoids time delaying, because usually when
you phone hospitals, it is time consuming as they put you on hold for a long time. And with the
mobile phones, patients will be able to communicate directly and efficiently with the doctor.

However as mentioned earlier there are some disadvantages that come with the use of mobile
phones. Firstly, if doctors distribute mobile cellphones to the patients, it will become time
consuming for the hospital and clinics to teach them how to use them.

Another point is that since it is portable this means patients and kids will carry the machine with
them, at all times and this transmits high radiations to the skin and can acquire health diseases
Maria Vasquez
Joenn Lee
March 19, 2010

such as cancer, brain tumors, memory loss and headaches. Thus, these health damages might end
up being more expensive than the machines cost.

For the ambulances of the hospital it might be a resource of distraction, as they need to answer
the phone while driving and this can cause car accidents, thus putting in risk the life of many
patients as well as the nurses in within the car. An important point to be considered is that mobile
cell phone machines are expensive, and if they purchase a high number of them, this means
Oobunta needs to invest, but will they have the economical resources to do this?

We believe that even though there are some drawbacks for applying mobile phone use to
Oobunta, on a general scale, it will help the hospital, the clinics, the doctors, the nurses and
patients. It will help Oobunta become a more develop place and it will improve the living
standards of people, because they will have an efficient health care system, because the
disadvantages can be taken care of. The use of mobile cell phones, will benefit Oobunta and bring
them up to a better health care programme. Communication is very important and in this case it
will save lots of lives.

Bibliography

Thomas Claburn, Cell Phone Use Linked To Increased Cancer Risk, February 15 2008
http://www.informationweek.com/news/mobility/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206504325

Associated Press, March 3 2009

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29494331/

Are mobile phones a health hazard?, January 25 2002

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/314363.stm