Tom Cruise Booed by the ACR
by Barbara Kram, Editor | April 18, 2006
The ACR supports legislation
that would prohibit untrained
people -- like Tom Cruise --
from buying and using
ultrasound equipment for
"keepsake" images of fetuses
that would prohibit untrained
people -- like Tom Cruise --
from buying and using
ultrasound equipment for
"keepsake" images of fetuses
4/17/2006 - Actor Tom Cruise's recent claim to be qualified to perform unsupervised ultrasound exams on his fianc Katie Holmes because he "read the manual" that came with the machine is irresponsible, potentially dangerous, and due to his celebrity status, may incorrectly influence others to place their unborn children at risk by performing such exams with no medical supervision.
"Radiologist physicians, certain other doctors, and ultrasound technologists receive years of specialized education and training in order to safely and effectively perform these exams. Others should not think that unsupervised use of medical equipment is completely safe and should, under no circumstances, view fetal keepsake videos as a substitute for appropriate medical attention or emulate Mr. Cruise's reported unsupervised use of ultrasound equipment," said James P. Borgstede, MD, chair of the ACR Board of Chancellors.
Untrained individuals, even if they have the financial means, should not buy, or be allowed to buy and operate, ultrasound machines which are, in fact, medical devices that are not to be used without a medical indication.
Accordingly, the ACR and the California Radiological Society support efforts such as (CA) Assembly Bill 2360 (AB 2360), in its current form, recently introduced into the California legislature, which would ban companies from providing ultrasound equipment to unlicensed, untrained individuals.
The US Food and Drug Administration has previously stated, "Persons who promote, sell or lease ultrasound equipment for making 'keepsake' fetal videos should know that FDA views this as an unapproved use of a medical device. In addition, those who subject individuals to ultrasound exposure using a diagnostic ultrasound device (a prescription device) without a physician's order may be in violation of state or local laws or regulations regarding use of a prescription medical device."
Ultrasound imaging, also known as ultrasound scanning or sonography, is a method of obtaining images from inside the human body through the use of high frequency sound waves. The sound waves' echoes are recorded and displayed as a real-time, visual image. Ultrasound is generally considered safe when used by properly trained providers for medical purposes. Physicians routinely use ultrasound imaging to check the size, location, number, or age of fetuses in the womb; the presence of some types of birth defects; fetal movement; breathing; and heartbeat.
"However, ultrasound should not be considered completely innocuous. Laboratory studies have shown that diagnostic levels of ultrasound can produce physical effects in tissue, such as mechanical vibrations and rise in temperature, particularly when used for a prolonged period of time," said Borgstede.
"Radiologist physicians, certain other doctors, and ultrasound technologists receive years of specialized education and training in order to safely and effectively perform these exams. Others should not think that unsupervised use of medical equipment is completely safe and should, under no circumstances, view fetal keepsake videos as a substitute for appropriate medical attention or emulate Mr. Cruise's reported unsupervised use of ultrasound equipment," said James P. Borgstede, MD, chair of the ACR Board of Chancellors.
Untrained individuals, even if they have the financial means, should not buy, or be allowed to buy and operate, ultrasound machines which are, in fact, medical devices that are not to be used without a medical indication.
We repair MRI Coils, RF amplifiers, Gradient Amplifiers and Injectors.
MIT labs, experts in Multi-Vendor component level repair of: MRI Coils, RF amplifiers, Gradient Amplifiers Contrast Media Injectors. System repairs, sub-assembly repairs, component level repairs, refurbish/calibrate. info@mitlabsusa.com/+1 (305) 470-8013
The US Food and Drug Administration has previously stated, "Persons who promote, sell or lease ultrasound equipment for making 'keepsake' fetal videos should know that FDA views this as an unapproved use of a medical device. In addition, those who subject individuals to ultrasound exposure using a diagnostic ultrasound device (a prescription device) without a physician's order may be in violation of state or local laws or regulations regarding use of a prescription medical device."
Ultrasound imaging, also known as ultrasound scanning or sonography, is a method of obtaining images from inside the human body through the use of high frequency sound waves. The sound waves' echoes are recorded and displayed as a real-time, visual image. Ultrasound is generally considered safe when used by properly trained providers for medical purposes. Physicians routinely use ultrasound imaging to check the size, location, number, or age of fetuses in the womb; the presence of some types of birth defects; fetal movement; breathing; and heartbeat.
"However, ultrasound should not be considered completely innocuous. Laboratory studies have shown that diagnostic levels of ultrasound can produce physical effects in tissue, such as mechanical vibrations and rise in temperature, particularly when used for a prolonged period of time," said Borgstede.
1(current)
