Opinion Continued...

Often it is a concern of expecting parents that costly and high tech ultrasound are not worth having because they commonly yield false positives. In a study done about the accuracy of ultrasounds in the textbook Guide to Clinical preventative Services, Second Edition results showed that “many fetal structural malformations including cardiac, gastrointestinal, renal, limb, and neural tube defects” can be accurately detected through ultrasound. The trial study showed that false positive diagnoses were reported for only 7 cases out of 1,000 pregnant women scanned before 24 weeks. Another study in this textbook explained the importance of follow-up ultrasounds. In this study at initial ultrasound appointments, 8 women received a diagnosis of fetal disability. At the next follow-up ultrasound 6 of the 8 cases were deemed free of fetal anomaly. These studies prove that the use of ultrasound in all health care settings rarely yield false positives. When a fetal anomaly is detected/suspected often these results are later resolved and ruled without fetal disability. These results show that it is important to not only have an initial ultrasound but to continue with follow-up visits and prenatal care. If this bill is passed women and families would have the opportunity to receive repeated ultrasounds thus allowing for detection of fetal anomaly and other birth outcomes. Thus, allowing families to have the opportunity to prepare for the birth of their child.

DiGuiseppi, C. (1996). Ultrasonography in pregnancy. Guide to clinical preventative services (2nd ed., pp. 411). Baltimore, MD: Retrieved from http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/pubs/guidecps/pcpstoc. htm