In an operating room, long cases usually allow anesthesiologists, nurses, as well as perfusionists to access their cell phones. Checking email, sending texts, or surfing the net, could be hazardous to patients, as the personnel need to focus on patient monitoring. Due to boredom, the staff tend to check their phones. This is a growing problem in operating rooms.

Half of technicians, who run bypass machines, reported that they texted during surgery, according to peer-reviewed survey of 439 medical staff by Dr. Trevor Smith published in Perfusion [2011 Sep;26(5):375-80].

• Around 55.6% of staff who monitor heart bypass machines accepted to having used cell phones during heart bypass surgery.
• Nearly 49.2% acknowledged they had texted while in surgery.
• Around 21% perfusionists acknowledged that in the middle of cardio-pulmonary bypass surgery, they had accessed e-mail, 15.1% accepted that they used the internet and 3.1% reported that they checked/posted on social networking sites.
• Personal distraction by cell phone use that had a negative impact on performance was acknowledged by 7.3%, while 33.7% acknowledged that they witnessed another perfusionist distracted with phone/text while on CPB.

Texting and checking email in OT while working can be dangerous. It has led to medical errors and lawsuits.

Medical professionals are expected to multitask but distracted doctors can lead to dangerous errors. Distracted doctors could be sued for medical mistakes caused by inattentiveness.

Such cases usually require expert testimony to prove the surgeon failed to properly care for the patient.

Hospitals that employ distracted doctors could also face lawsuits under the legal theory of "respondent superior," which holds an employer liable for employees negligence.