UAMS providers will not endorse nor sign an order or waiver for an entertainment ultrasound during pregnancy.
The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), American College of Radiology (ACR), Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS), and the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) strongly discourage the non-medical use of ultrasound for psychosocial or entertainment purposes.
“The use of either a two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound to only view the fetus, obtain a picture of the fetus, or determine the fetal gender without a medical indication is inappropriate and contrary to responsible medical practice.
Although there are no confirmed biological effects on patients caused by exposure from the present diagnostic ultrasound instruments, the possibility exists that effects may be identified in the future. Thus, the ultrasound should be used in a practical manner to provide medical benefit to the patient” (AIUM).
Only licensed medical professionals (such as physicians, certified/registered sonographers, or sonography registry candidates) with specialized training in fetal imagining should perform all related ultrasound scans. These individuals have been trained to recognize medically important conditions, objects that can mimic or be unclear in pathology, and use techniques to minimize the ultrasound exposure to the fetus. In addition, the use of diagnostic ultrasound for entertainment purposes is not approved by the FDA.