2 Safety and Care
2 - 14 Instructions for Use
Note on Fetal Examinations
The following recommendation is excerpted from the National Institute of Health in the United
States of America. Consensus Statement on the Use of Ultrasound Imaging During Pregnancy,
Volume 5, No. 1, based on the recommendation issued at the Health Consensus Development
Conference, February, 1984:
Ultrasound examination in pregnancy should be performed for a specific medical
indication. The data on clinical efficacy and safety do not allow a recommendation for
routine scanning at this time.
Ultrasound examination performed solely to satisfy the family's desire to know the fetal sex,
to view the fetus, or to obtain a picture of the fetus should be discouraged. In addition,
visualization of the fetus solely for educational or commercial demonstrations without
medical benefit should not be performed.
In August 1994, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified the medical community and
the ultrasound industry regarding its concerns about the misuse of diagnostic ultrasound
equipment for non-medical purposes, and to discourage patients from having sonograms for
non-medical reasons.
The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) has also advocated the responsible
use of diagnostic ultrasound for all fetal imaging (August 2005).
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