4D Private Ultrasound Clinics Spark Warning From Health Canada.
I am not talking about diagnostic ultrasound clinics where they send the images to a radiologists but this in regards to 4D baby ultrasound.
Like regular ultrasounds, 3D and 4D ultrasounds use sound waves to create an image of your baby in your womb. What’s different is that 3D ultrasound create a three-dimensional image of your baby, while 4D ultrasound create a live video effect, like a movie — you can watch your baby smile or yawn.
2D ultrasound is the interpretation of sound waves in one single plain. The sound is aimed down in a straight line and is reflected directly back up. The black and white image produced is a representation of a cross-section of the baby.
3D ultrasounds operate in a more advanced way, termed “surface rendering”. As with 2D ultrasounds, sound waves are directed toward the intended area, however with 3D ultrasound the sound waves are directed at various angles. Advanced software is used by a sonographer to create an image from the sound waves and a 3D image is instantly available to see. The image produced allows incredible detail to be seen on screen.
4D ultrasound images are created using the same method as 3D ultrasound. However, 4D ultrasound provides live video streaming of the baby in the womb rather than the still image created by 3D. With color as a 4 dimension.
The Bonding Effect of 3D 4D Ultrasound
Pregnant women all over the country are requesting elective ultrasounds via an ultrasound technician as they feel that it will have a positive influence on their pregnancy. It is also the case that recent scientific studies have proven that ultrasound scans can have a positive impact on the pregnant mother’s health pattern.
Furthermore, studies presented at an American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine meeting suggested that 3D ultrasounds have a positive impact on soon-to-be parents and the bond they develop with their unborn babies.
Pregnant women had a tendency to eat more healthily, do more exercise, and give up previous bad habits such as smoking and drinking. Another suggested benefit of ultrasound is the impact on fathers; they may become more involved with their partner’s pregnancy, being more supportive, understanding and appreciative of her situation.
How safe is ultrasound?
The first ever ultrasound was used over 40 years ago. Ultrasound differs a great deal from X-rays in that ionizing radiation is not present and embryo toxic effects associated with this type of irradiation are not relevant.
The utilization of high intensity ultrasound is linked with the effects of “cavitations” and “heating” which can be present with prolonged intonations in laboratory situations.
Although certain harmful effects in cells have been found in a laboratory setting, abnormalities in embryos and the young of animals and humans have not be explicitly shown in the large number of studies that have appeared to date in medical literature purporting to the use of diagnostic ultrasound in the clinical setting.
Results of small studies have suggested apparent side effects such as low birth weight, speech and hearing problems, brain damage and non-right-handedness.
These findings, however, have not been confirmed or substantiated in larger studies undertaken in Europe. A number of studies have been so complex that the results are extremely difficult to interpret. From time to time, ill effects of ultrasound on the fetus appear as a news item in papers and magazines. Of course continuous vigilance is necessary, markedly in areas of concern such as the use of pulsed Doppler in the first trimester. Some study linked Ultrasound to Autism if it was done so many times in early stage of pregnancy .
By far the greatest risks arising from the use of 3D / 4D ultrasound are the possible over- and under-diagnosis delivered by under-trained staff or an ultrasound technician, often working in relative isolation and using inadequate equipment.
As parents stare wide-eyed at the flat-screen TV, a clearly detailed, full-motion image of their unborn daughter leaves them breathless.
“Wow, it was pretty exciting, just seeing the face,” “You can really see the details of the eyes, the face, the nose … you can see her move.” Private, 3 / 4 D baby ultrasound for-profit ultrasound clinics are popping up across Canada and the USA.
UC Baby of Mississauga, Ont., has expanded to 16 locations in five years — even though Health Canada has issued warnings about the potential health risks associated with exposure to ultrasound for non-diagnostic purposes.
The federal department has established guidelines that state ultrasound images should not be used for non-medical reasons or for commercial purposes.
Ultrasound is a non-invasive technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to create images on a monitor of internal soft tissues and body cavities, such as a fetus growing in the womb.
“There really has been no proven harm, but when you put energy into tissue, there is a certain amount of heat that is generated, and whether that has any potential ill effect — who knows?” says Dr. Andrew Ross, past president of the Nova Scotia Association of Radiologists. Many Ultrasound Diagnostic clinics d 4D some charge 20 dollars .
So why it is OK for them to do! And Not OK for the sonographers who open their own clinics !?
The federal warnings mean little because the regulation of ultrasound clinics is under provincial jurisdiction.
“It’s an uncontrolled environment in terms of any kinds of regulations — timing, power, all those sorts of things,” “That’s why all the professional associations are all very adamantly opposed to this type of utilization of what is considered a medical device for non-medical purpose.” I think it is a hypocrisy when those doctors allowing the 4D to be done in their clinic and don’t like it when Other sonographers open their own clinics.
The fact that many hospitals won’t and don’t do 4D ultrasound or reveal the sex of a fetus is probably driving business to private clinics, Many Radiologists says.
Ultrasounds in hospitals are typically done early in the pregnancy when it is tough to determine the sex, but the private clinics offer the service much later in the pregnancy.
UC Baby won’t use its equipment to determine the sex until the fetus is at least 22 weeks old. Baby Images in Moncton sets the limit at 20 weeks. In BC Canada the doctors and sonographers are not even allowed to tell the parents about baby gender otherwise they end up in court. As there are so many Indian population in BC who might abort the first born if it turned to be a baby girl .
Parents says “We wanted to know the gender… to be ready, the room, and just to be set,” they said .
“People like to see five fingers and toes or check for cleft palates … make sure everything is there,” she says. But this is not allowed !? if you are doing 4D ultrasound you should not get involved with diagnostic pathology without the present of a radiologists , Ob/ Gyn specialist or a physician on site.
Some facility features soft lighting, soothing music and large leather couches for friends and family members to be part of the session, which lasts at least 30 minutes.
On its website, Baby Images promises clients a sneak peak of the future:
“Yawning? Stretching? Sucking her thumb already? Playing with his toes? See the unbelievable! Now you can experience the wonder of 3-D and 4-D ultrasound and get a glimpse of the new person who will soon be entering your life!”
Many radiologists, researchers , and associations Thinks that the 4D technology is safe.
“There is nothing that shows in 40 years of studies that it’s harmful to the fetus or the mom. But just to be on the safe side, I suppose Health Canada put that (warning) out.”
Some foreign radiologists says private ultrasound services are operating around the world, and she thinks the concerns in Canada are more about politics than safety.
“There’s no involvement of the medical professionals, and patients can decide for themselves, There’s no doctor making any benefit from this service.”
The cost of the service isn’t cheap, ranging from about $100 for basic photos to $300 for deluxe video packages.
Many people are unaware that Health Canada or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had issued warnings about the practice.
The fact that many people are unaware of the warnings is a concern for so many Doctors, public health officers and Radiologists.
“People are not making an informed and educated decision to go to 4D ultrasound clinics.
“When you are exposing a fetus for 30 minutes just to get a 3-D picture or to get a videotape, or to determine gender, just for entertainment purposes, I have some concern over that conflicting with everything that I’ve been taught.”
But the question remain why 90% of Diagnostic clinics do offer 3D /4D scan and they do it without warning at all, and some even advertise for it .Here in Calgary so many Ultrasound diagnostic who offer the 4D force their technologists to do it ,they told them it is only 5 minutes .They do not ask if the sonographers want to be part of this money making practice. Ask your clinic why they want to do it? is it necessary? as some times sonographers must use 4D scanning for diagnostic of fetal spine and limbs, uterine pathology, and many other patholgies. UC BABY CLINIC Who run by Turkish Radiologist, who is not qualified Radiologist in Canada, His private 3D / 4D clinic offer this service .
- 3D/4D ultrasound session
- Gender determination, upon request
- Watching baby’s activities
- Listen to baby’s heartbeats
- Face and body scan for pathology!? not just for picture.and that’s why he pass the line if he tell you that your baby have a defect and charge you for this service.
- CD copy of baby’s images in JPEG format (2D & 3D)
- Printed 4 x 6 photo
- FREE Live Broadcasting
- FREE Repeat session, if gender or face is hidden
- FREE Video-on-Demand, 30 min and 1 hour scan , follow up scan.
Diagnostic clinics in Calgary such as CDC clinic , FEW Do the 3D/ 4D SCAN FOR Picture and charge about 20 dollars .Many patients demands more time more minutes and that will take time from the diagnostic scan ,but those clinics seem careless to ask the sonographers if they want to participate in the scan or not .They use this as marketing strategy to bring patients to there clinic. Thats what CDC clinic says in there advertisement “2D/3D/4D Real Time Exams ;Technological advances in ultrasound allows us to image organs and structures in 2D, 3D or 4D (real time), which means that we can image a baby’s face in the womb and it is even possible to see your baby smile or yawn.
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Natasha one of the 4D us owner wrote this ;
Natasha Bennett RVT, RCS Owner at Bellìsimo Ultrasound
Thank you for reading.
Steve Ramsey, PhD -Public Health.
MSc -Medical Ultrasound.
Sami Jamil Jadallah ;Founder/Director at The Arab Peace Corps