FDA Advises Against Keepsake and Elective Fetal Ultrasounds

No one is really sure what the effects of ultrasounds are on fetal development. Although considered safe the FDA is now advising against keepsake and elective ultrasounds.

So what is the State of Wisconsin’s liability if their forced ultrasounds convince a woman to give to a child but later congenital defects or illnesses are blamed on fetal ultrasounds?

Ultrasound technology is generally considered safe by doctors, but it’s unknown what prolonged and frequent ultrasounds could do to a fetus.

In December, the Food and Drug Administration renewed its advisory urging women not to seek ultrasounds outside their doctor’s office or a hospital. In recent years several medical groups have denounced keepsake ultrasounds, including the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Medical Association and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.

Whitney You, a maternal fetal medicine physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, said routine prenatal care usually doesn’t involve conversations about ultrasound safety. However, if a patient brings up elective ultrasounds, she advises against them.

“The use of any medical equipment outside of its indicated use is dangerous for lots of reasons,” You said. “We don’t know what prolonged exposure can do to a fetus.

>Sarcasm<

Share:

Related Articles

1 thought on “FDA Advises Against Keepsake and Elective Fetal Ultrasounds

Comments are closed.