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Showing posts from April, 2007

South Carolina's Pre-abortion Ultrasounds

The South Carolina legislature is proposing mandatory ultrasounds for women considering pregnancy termination. The proposal, brought by non-physicians, raises multiple medical, financial, and ethical concerns. For many reasons, pre-abortion ultrasounds would create more problems than they would solve. Obvious crucial questions include: Who would perform each ultrasound - an ultrasound technician or a physician? What type of ultrasound would be performed - screening, anatomic, Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO)-level, or other? Who would read the ultrasounds? Primary care physicians, radiologists, or perinatologists? Each has different skills. Who would convey results to patients? A physician, an ultrasound technician, or other medical staff? Would results include a written report? Would patients be offered counseling after the ultrasounds? Who would be liable for incorrect information? Politicians have called pre-abortion ultrasounds "accurate" and "non-ju