Raise awareness of environmental health issues in order to better protect our children and future generations.

06 September 2016

Wi-Fi on Medical Premises: Letter Addressed to a Pediatrician, Petit-Lancy Medical Group, Geneva

UPDATED 6 September 2016:  To date, no reaction from either the Medical Group or the Geneva Pediatrician Network.  We find this unacceptable on the part of the medical profession, especially pediatricians.  On a positive note, the head of nursing at one hospital has agreed to meet with an electrosensitive patient to discuss possibilities for improving accommodation at the hospital for persons suffering from this intolerance.  Read her testimony.

Many of our readers have seen this letter addressed by a member of the Swiss advocacy group for safer wireless, ARA, to Dr. Aline Lemma, pediatrician at the Petit-Lancy medical group and vice-president of the Geneva Pediatricians Network.  We have received no reaction to it other than acknowledgement of the letter by the consumers' group, Bon à Savoir.  We wrote another letter to the president of the same pediatricians' group:  no reaction.  It seems that most of the doctors in Geneva have banded together to ignore the health risks of exposure to radiofrequency radiation emitted by Wi-Fi and wireless devices which is especially a danger to children.  What are they afraid of?  Going against the message of the Swiss Government:  Good coverage of mobile telephony and access to the Internet are essential for the development of Switzerland?  

Letter addressed to: Dr. Aline Lemma, pediatrician, Petit-Lancy Medical Group, Geneva, by a member of the ARA
Committee
(translated from French)

Morges, 11 February 2016



Dear Madam,

Recently I consulted one of the physicians in your medical group.  I spent an hour and a half waiting and in consultation.  Being electrosensitive, I suffered strong pressure in my head due to the presence of Wi-Fi on the premises and even in the doctor's office.  I have been obliged to change doctors.

Wi-Fi has no place on premises where one treats patients.  Exposure to this wireless technology, which emits electromagnetic waves, classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, category 2B, may be harmful, especially for persons in ill health, those sensitive to this technology (the electro-hypersensitive, comprising at least 5% of the population), and in particular, children and pregnant women.  Wi-Fi should not be installed either in medical offices or waiting rooms as entertainment for patients.

In Geneva, certain health premises, such as the Geneva Cancer League (La Médiane) and doctors' offices, respect application of the precautionary principle, in banning Wi-Fi from their premises.

In May 2015, more than 200 scientists from 40 countries signed an international appeal addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and Director-General of the World Health Organization, requesting effective protection, especially for children and pregnant women, against exposure to electromagnetic fields, emitted by Wi-Fi, mobile phones and other wireless technologies.  These scientists have published more than 2,000 peer-reviewed articles in journals on the biological effects of these technologies.  The signatories of the Appeal request, inter alia that:

- children and pregnant women be protected;
- the public be fully informed about the potential health risks from electromagnetic energy and taught harm reduction strategies;
- medical professionals be educated about the biological effects of electromagnetic energy and be
provided training on treatment of patients with electromagnetic sensitivity;

It is the responsibility of physicians, especially pediatricians, to educate their most vulnerable patients, children's parents and pregnant women, concerning the potential risks of this technology:  impact on the foetus and development, and children's behavior.  Pediatricians should at least inform parents about the use of babyphones, smartphones, and tablets, and recommend precautions to take for safer use of this technology.  The use of mobile phones by very young children will lead to, during the course of their lives, an accumulation of the effects of electromagnetic radiation that is much more significant than that of adults.  This could significantly increase the risk for their developing brain tumors and/or an intolerance to electromagnetic waves.

The Swiss Cancer League as well as the Federal Office for Public Health, recommends, among others, to reduce to a minimum personal exposure to electromagnetic radiation.  Nearly all mobile phone user manuals advise keeping a certain distance between the phone and the body.

Professor Dominique Belpomme (President of ARTAC (Association for Research on Treatment Against Cancer) and of ECERI (European Cancer and Environment Institute), one of the well-known clinical researchers on the diagnosis and treatment of electro-hypersensitive persons has, among his patients, two children, aged 13 and 15, who are already showing neuro-degenerative problems and cognitive deficiency similar to Alzheimer's, resulting from the use of babyphones as babies.  You will find attached an abstract of the recent publication by Prof. Belpomme and his team concerning reliable disease biomarkers characterizing and identifying electrohypersensitivity and multiple chemical sensitivity allowing objective diagnosis of these two afflictions that are still not properly recognized.  We much hope that the medical sector will take note of these scientific advances in the interest of the many persons suffering intolerance due to chemical and electromagnetic pollution.

Please do not hesitate to communicate with us for further information.  One of the scientists who signed the Appeal is president of ARA - Association romande alerte aux ondes électromagnétiques whose purpose is to raise awareness of the population regarding the risks of wireless technologies.

I thank you for your attention.

Yours truly,

Member of the Committee of ARA
Association Romande Alerte
www.alerte.ch

Copy:
- Ms. Zeynep Ersan Berdoz, Directrice des rédactions, Bon à Savoir [consumers' magazine]
- Dr. Yvonne Gilli, Conseillère nationale, Parlement Suisse [Swiss Parliament] 2007-2015
- Mr. Paul-Olivier Vallotton, Secrétaire général, Association des Médecins du canton de Genève ]
[Geneva Association of Physicians]
- Mr. Mauro Poggia, Conseiller d’Etat chargé du Département de l’emploi, des affaires sociales et de la santé [State Councillor in Charge of Department of Employment, Social Affairs, and Health, Geneva]

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