By Mike Pearson
Ancaster
(Feb 2, 2007)
A veteran radiologist at McMaster Medical Centre said
he has no major concerns with a new private ultrasound
clinic, as long as clients use the information for entertainment
purposes only.
Dubbed entertainment ultrasound, Fetal Expressions is
scheduled to open March 1 at Ancaster Meadowlands. The
business is a joint venture between Ancaster resident
John Rasmussen and Gary Janes of Brantford.
Mr. Janes said clients must sign a waiver that ensures
the mother had a proper medical ultrasound by week 24
of the pregnancy. He said the service is not intended
as a substitute for medical ultrasound.
"The emphasis is on the aesthetics of the baby,"
Mr. Janes said.
John Mernagh, a radiologist at McMaster Medical Centre
with 10 years experience, warned entertainment ultrasound
should not be a substitute for proper medically supervised
testing.
It's not a medical exam; it's just baby pictures,"
Dr. Mernagh said.
Dr. Mernagh said entertainment ultrasound could be misinterpreted
by the client. Parents may see something they think is
unusual and request additional medical testing that may
be unnecessary, he explained.
Conversely, the technician could miss something during
the test, and parents could believe they have a healthy
fetus, when in fact there is a problem.
"As long as they make it absolutely clear in no
way it's a medical test, I have no real problem with it,"
Dr. Mernagh said.
Dr. Mernagh said demand for ultrasound is high at McMaster,
with 14 machines operating near capacity on most days.
Unlike X-ray testing which emits radiation, Dr. Mernagh
said there have been no proven health risks associated
with exposure to ultrasound because testing involves the
use of sound waves.
At Fetal Expressions, parents can choose from two service
packages. Families can relax on couches and leather recliners
while viewing a scanned image of the unborn child. Babysitting
service is available for young children.
The $99 no-frills package includes 15 minutes of scanning
time which allows parents to see a moving image of the
fetus on a large LCD monitor. Parents can then choose
a colour 4x6 photo of their unborn child.
For the ultimate package, parents pay $199 to receive
30 minutes of scanning time, plus a DVD and CD and the
ability to e-mail photos of their child.
Private ultrasound clinics are a growing phenomenon in
Ontario. Practices are currently running in Oakville,
Mississauga and Cambridge.
One per month
Fetal Expressions is Hamilton's first entertainment ultrasound
clinic. The Ontario Association of Radiologists estimates
private clinics are currently opening at the rate of one
per month in Ontario.
Mr. Janes and Mr. Rasmussen both have backgrounds in
medical ultrasound. They plan to split their time working
at Fetal Expressions and a publicly-funded medical ultrasound
clinic in Brantford.
