The Health Regulatory Authority (ERS) warned this Tuesday, December 9, about the risks of “emotional ultrasounds”, stressing that these exams should only be carried out in a “clinical context” and cannot be performed for recreational purposes, such as “mere visualization” of the fetus.
The health regulator’s warning follows several complaints from users reporting the “carrying out of ultrasounds designated as ’emotional’, ‘3D/4D/5D non-diagnostic’ or equivalent, which are presented as recreational services, with the purpose of providing pregnant women and their families with a visual and sentimental experience”.
According to the ERS, these practices “may involve unnecessary exposure of the fetus to ultrasound and distort the medical and diagnostic purpose of obstetric ultrasound, contradicting current technical-scientific recommendations”.
ERS also recalls that the Current law establishes that performing ultrasounds is a medical activity falling within the typology of Radiology Units or Clinics or Medical Offices, requiring the presence of a specialist doctor, appropriate technical conditions and issuance of a clinical report.
It also warns that violation of the law “constitutes an administrative offense punishable by a fine”, such as the operation of establishments that are not registered or not licensed for the type of activity carried out.
The entity adds that advertising for ultrasound services is subject to the legal regime, with messages that attribute non-existent medical purposes, omit the identification of the provider or mislead the public regarding the diagnostic nature of the exam being prohibited.