Senate Bill S4972

                                BILL NUMBER:S4972

TITLE OF BILL:

An act directing the commissioner of health to conduct a study of the
practice of obstetrical ultrasound procedures for non-medical and
non-diagnostic purposes

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This legislation would direct the Commissioner of Health to conduct a
study analyzing the practice of conducting prolonged and/or
unnecessary ultrasounds for non-medical and non-diagnostic purposes
from both a medical and business perspective.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill requires the commissioner of health to conduct a
study analyzing the impact of conducting prolonged and/or unnecessary
ultrasounds for non-medical and non-diagnostic purposes on the health
of the receiving individual, as well as analyzing the proliferation of
business offering such services and the adequacy of the current
requirements for maintenance and operation of ultrasound machines.

Section 2 of the bill provides that the act shall take effect
immediately.
              

JUSTIFICATION:

Obstetrical ultrasound procedures are an immensely useful medical tool
to ensure the health of a mother and her fetus during pregnancy. When
used for medical procedures, ultrasounds are considered to be safe and
non-invasive, and help to confirm a pregnancy, determine whether
vaginal bleeding is occurring, and monitor a fetus' heartbeat.

However, despite its usefulness, an ultrasound is still a procedure
that should be administered by a licensed medical professional and
should not be commercialized for the purposes of recording fetal
"keepsake" videos and images. The FDA has released a statement urging
people not to use ultrasound devices in this manner, as it is unclear
what impact prolonged exposure to these devices might have on the
health of the fetus and the mother. The FDA notes that ultrasounds can
produce slight tissue heating and cavitation, the long-term health
impacts of which are currently unknown.

This legislation would direct the commissioner of health to conduct a
study of this practice, and determine the health impacts of the
practice along with the proliferation of these kind of "keepsake"
imaging businesses in the State of New York.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

None.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None to the state.


EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect immediately.