Keepsake
Ultrasound Legislation
Introduced
Into New Jersey State
Assembly
July 11, 2006
by Barbara
Kram, Assistant Editor
A
bill restricting sale or lease of certain diagnostic ultrasound
equipment
has been introduced into the New Jersey legislature.
The
bill was submitted in response to persons, most notably actor
Tom
Cruise, and so-called fetal keepsake studios, acquiring and
using
ultrasound equipment for nonmedical purposes without a
physician’s
prescription or proper training.
Assembly
Bill 3290 prohibits sale, lease, or distribution of an
obstetric-gynecologic
ultrasonic imager in the state to any person
aside
from entities such as licensed health care professionals,
licensed
health care facilities, dealers, distributors,
manufacturer’s
representatives, banks, leasing companies,
financial
institutions, and educational or research facilities.
A
person violating the provisions of this bill will be subject to a
civil
penalty ranging between $500-$1,000 collected by the
Commissioner
of Health and Senior Services. If the violation is of
a
continuing nature, each day during which it continues will be
considered
an additional, separate, and distinct offense.
Ultrasound
equipment is designated by the Food and Drug
Administration
as a prescription medical device and should be
used
only by properly trained personnel.
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.
The
American College of Radiology applauds the efforts of the
New
Jersey legislature in pursuing this act. Similar legislation has
been
passed by the California state assembly and is under
consideration
in the California senate.
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