Recent headlines from the Sydney Morning Herald and an investigation launched by federal Health Minister Mark Butler, as reported by the ABC, have brought a critical issue in private ultrasound services to the forefront: the dangers of unregulated “reassurance” scans. At Ultrasound Care, we believe that patient safety and diagnostic accuracy are paramount, and we stand firmly with leading medical bodies in advocating for higher standards across the industry.
The boom in private baby scanning clinics that sell ‘reassurance’ ultrasounds is alarming, with reports detailing serious consequences such as stillbirths, late-term abortions due to missed diagnoses, and incorrect diagnoses. These clinics, often run by staff with no clinical training, are putting mothers and babies at significant risk. Disturbing cases have emerged, including a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy misdiagnosed as a miscarriage, and tragic instances where critical abnormalities like heart and skeletal issues were missed.
Our Unwavering Commitment to Qualified Care
At Ultrasound Care, our approach to patient care is built on a foundation of rigorous qualifications, extensive experience, and an unwavering commitment to diagnostic excellence. We understand that an ultrasound is more than just “pretty pictures”; it’s a vital medical tool providing crucial information about health and development.
Every sonographer at Ultrasound Care is highly qualified and adheres to the strictest professional standards. We are dedicated to ensuring that every scan performed provides accurate, reliable, and clinically meaningful results, giving you genuine peace of mind, not false reassurance.
Supporting the Call for AHPRA Registration
The current lack of regulation for sonographers in Australia leaves patients vulnerable and undermines confidence in the quality and safety of ultrasound services. Peak bodies, including the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG), the Australian Medical Association (AMA), the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Society (ASAR), the Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine (ASUM) and the Australasian Sonographers Association (ASA), are united in their call for sonographers to be regulated by the national health practitioner watchdog, AHPRA.
Ultrasound Care strongly supports these calls for mandatory AHPRA registration for sonographers. We believe that professional regulation is essential to:
- Protect Patients: Ensuring that only qualified and accountable professionals perform diagnostic ultrasounds.
- Standardise Care: Implementing consistent training, competency, and ethical standards across the industry.
- Enhance Trust: Building public confidence in the quality and reliability of ultrasound services.
Choose Ultrasound Care: Your Partner in Safe and Accurate Imaging
In this rapidly evolving landscape, choosing a trusted and qualified provider for your ultrasound needs is more important than ever. At Ultrasound Care, we are proud to offer:
- A highly qualified team: Our sonographers are extensively trained and experienced in diagnostic imaging.
- Adherence to best practices: We follow stringent medical guidelines and protocols to ensure accuracy and safety.
- Comprehensive support: We work closely with referring clinicians to ensure integrated and holistic patient care.
We are actively engaged in supporting initiatives that advocate for the regulation of sonographers under AHPRA. Our commitment is to always provide the highest standard of care, ensuring that every patient receives accurate diagnoses and safe, professional attention.
For your next ultrasound, choose a practice where expertise and patient well-being are the top priorities. Choose Ultrasound Care.
Sources
Sydney Morning Herald, ‘Boom in private ultrasound industry putting mothers and babies at risk’, 31st March 2025
ABC News, ‘Federal Health Minister Mark Butler investigating ‘souvenir’ ultrasound clinics targeting pregnant women’, 29 May 2025
