In most states , keepsake clinic operators can easily purchase ultrasound machines from eBay or other second-hand sources. But she refused to say if the agency has actually done so. An agency spokeswoman said in an email that the "FDA could take action against manufacturers and certain other establishments who were promoting or advertising the sale or use of a prescription device without a prescription." She said the FDA could also refer keepsake clinics to state licensing boards for possible action. The FDA's warnings about keepsake clinics date back to the 1990s. As the FDA said in its most recent advisory in 2014, "ultrasound can heat tissues slightly, and in some cases, it can also produce very small bubbles (cavitation) in some tissue." The long-term health effects of this on a fetus, the FDA said, are "not known."ĭespite the repeated warnings , it's unclear if the agency has ever backed them up with enforcement action. In fact, regulators and researchers have said for years that fetal ultrasound should be used prudently-about two for each complication-free, low-risk pregnancy, and only for diagnostic purposes-out of caution for the developing fetus. The widespread use of fetal ultrasounds for sentimental purposes reflects a misconception among patients, and even some medical providers, that repeated, long-term sonogram exposure is proven harmless. The anti-abortion group Focus on the Family last year live-streamed one pregnant woman's ultrasound in the middle of Times Square, using the popular advancement in sonography known as "4D" technology, or the high-definition 3D images turned into a video. Thanks to improved imaging technology, even some doctors' offices are competing, with one upscale New York City practice advertising high-definition images of a baby's hands, feet, and face to take home for an additional $200 not covered by insurance. Outside California, it's easy to find businesses that offer ultrasound sessions for the whole family to enjoy, along with framed take-home images and videos that can be used as decorations at baby showers or gender-reveal parties. In California alone, at least 40 stores sell elective fetal ultrasounds, according to a FairWarning review of businesses advertised on Google or registered with the Secretary of State. A competitor sells keepsake ultrasounds at a mall not far away in Lakewood. Cherished Memories, whose owners declined an interview, also has storefronts at two other Southern California malls. The warnings did little to slow the burgeoning trend. that perform ultrasounds on pregnant women for entertainment's sake and then sell the images as keepsake photographs and videos. The Food and Drug Administration has repeatedly urged pregnant women to avoid medically unnecessary ultrasounds, saying it is aware of "several enterprises" in the U.S. "Fall in love at first sight," says the sign on the front of Cherished Memories, a boutique where pregnant women can undergo a $27 to $200 ultrasound not covered by insurance. You can sign up for their newsletter here.Īt the Los Cerritos Center mall near Los Angeles, high-definition photos of a baby in the womb are on display. This story was produced by FairWarning, a nonprofit news organization based in Southern California that focuses on public health, consumer, labor and environmental issues.
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