Obstetric Sonography – That’s Entertainment?
The November/December issue of The Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography published, Obstetric Sonography – That’s Entertainment?. Jeanette Burlbaw BS RDMS FSDMS, owner Prenatal Imaging Centers, LLC., http//www.prenatalimaging.com, notes that the FDA and AIUM have issued warnings against obstetric ultrasound as a potential health risk to the unborn. Burlbaw found in her research that in 30 years there have been no confirmed biologic effects and that the pregnant patient looks to all sonograms for reassurance not “entertainment”.
Kansas City, MO (PRWEB) November 21, 2004 -- The established safety power
level of diagnostic ultrasound is less than 100 mW/cm2. Sonographers certified
by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) are educated
to respect the power of diagnostic ultrasound and utilized the ALARA (as low as
reasonably achievable) principal, as specified by the American Institute of
Ultrasound in Medicine. The first step in addressing the safety issue is to
ensure a sonographer holding the ARDMS credential accomplishes the exam.
Dr. Janelle Taylor, assistant professor of anthropology at the
University of Washington, who has researched and written about social and
cultural dimensions of obstetric sonography, was quoted, “Given the way
obstetric ultrasound is actually practiced in the U.S. today, you just can’t get
away from the entertainment/baby picture aspect of the technology in medical
practice, any more than you can get away from its medical/diagnostic aspect in
entertainment ultrasound.” The Medical University of Lubeck, Germany noted a
merger of the scientific portion of the sonogram with the emotional element.
They found the patient and significant other expect the sonogram and
sonographer/sonologist to provide them with detailed information about the
health of their baby.
Burlbaw feels the solution to the question of the
appropriateness of “entertainment” ultrasound as a business is for the Society
of Diagnostic Medical Sonography in conjunction with the American Institute of
Ultrasound in Medicine to write policies and procedures for nondiagnostic
sonography studies. She emphasized that eliminating the importance of the
skilled credentialed sonographer from safety statements is inappropriate and
should be addressed.
For more information, contact Jeanette Burlbaw at
http://www.prenatalimaging.com.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/11/prweb180964.htm