Scanning ‘vital’ in pregnancy

Press, 5 December 1980, Page 3

Scanning ‘vital’ in pregnancy

Health Department policy on ultrasound scans for pregnant women could lead to more disabled children in New Zealand, said the chairman of the national committee for the International Year for Disabled Persons,; Miss Ann Ballin, in Christ-i church yesterday.

.Miss Ballin said she welcomed' the recommendations of .the medical ’ spperinten-dent-in-chief for "the North Canterbury Hospital Board,; Dr R. A. Fairgray, for an improved ultrasound service for pregnant women in Christchurch.

“However, this is an issue of vital national importance and our committee, has expressed concern to the Director-General of Health (Dr H; J. H. Hiddlestone) about the matter,” she said.

Many children in New Zealand could be saved from brain damage at birth if sufficient information about the pregnanej’ was obtained beforehand, Miss Ballin said. Ultrasound scans of the foetus were recognised by medical authorities in Australia and the United States as the safest method of obtaining this information. “By not providing free ultrasound scans . for all pregnant women, the Health

Department runs a very severe risk of having more disabled children in the community,” she said. The community would eventually have io pay a considerable . emotional and I economic cost to cope with the results of this. "It seems ridiculous that X-ray examinations which are known to be potentially harmful to the foetus are free while .the proved, safe (method of ultrasound scans are not free to all pregnant women,” Miss Ballin srid.