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© 2006 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
J Ultrasound Med 25:331-335 • 0278-4297

Nonmedical Fetal Ultrasound

Knowledge and Opinions of Maine Obstetricians and Radiologists

Joseph R. Wax, MD, Angelina Cartin, Michael G. Pinette, MD and Jacquelyn Blackstone, DO

Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine USA

Address correspondence to Joseph R. Wax, MD, MMC Ob/Gyn Associates, 887 Congress St, Suite 200, Portland, ME 04102 USA. E-mail: waxj{at}mmc.org

Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate knowledge and opinions regarding nonmedical fetal ultrasound (NMFU) in obstetricians (OB) and radiologists (R). Methods. A questionnaire was sent to all Maine fellows of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists practicing obstetrics and members of the Maine Society of Radiology in April 2005. Results. Among OB, 52 (81.2%), 24 (37.5%), 45 (75.0%), and 56 (87.5%) did not know whether the American College of Radiology, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, or US Food and Drug Administration held positions on NMFU. Among R, 11 (37.9%), 27 (93.1%), 19 (65.5%), and 24 (82.7%) did not know whether the organizations held positions. More R than OB agreed that women might forego medical ultrasound after NMFU (62.1% versus 49.2%; P = .05), whereas more OB than R believed fetal anomalies would go undetected during NMFU (79.4% versus 62.1%; P = .04). OB and R had concerns for false-positive NMFU diagnoses (41.9% and 31.0%), false reassurance by NMFU (76.2% and 62.1%), poor imaging causing anxiety (39.7% and 51.7%), and lack of physician availability to review suspected abnormalities on NMFU (73.0% and 65.5%). Sizable minorities of OB and R believed NMFU providers should be disciplined by licensing boards (33.9% and 44.8%), excluded from society memberships (22.9% and 37.9%), or reported to the Food and Drug Administration (21.3% and 31.0%). Conclusions. Most Maine OB and R are aware of their own but not each other’s professional or regulatory NMFU positions yet practice within these guidelines. Most respondents do not favor sanctioning colleagues performing NMFU.

Key Words: entertainment ultrasound • keepsake ultrasound • nonmedical fetal ultrasound

Abbreviations: ACOG, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists • ACR, American College of Radiology • AIUM, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine • FDA, Food and Drug Administration • NMFU, nonmedical fetal ultrasound • NS, not significant • OB, obstetricians • R, radiologists




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Copyright © 2006 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.