Posted on 12/01/2005 5:59:43 AM PST by Qwertrew
Tom Cruise hasn't made many friends within the medical community lately.
First the American Psychiatric Association slammed the actor for referring to psychiatry as a "pseudoscience," calling Cruise's remarks "irresponsible." Now the American College of Radiology is up in arms over Cruise's admission that he purchased a sonogram machine and uses it to perform at-home ultrasounds on fiancee Katie Holmes.
The ACR issued a statement warning that Cruise and Holmes could potentially harm their unborn baby by performing ultrasounds without the benefit of a doctor's supervision
"This is a patient safety issue. Untrained people, even if they have the financial means, should not buy, or be allowed to buy and operate, ultrasound machines which are, in fact, medical devices and should not be used without a medical indication," said Dr. Carol M. Rumack, chair of the ACR Ultrasound Commission.
Cruise gushed about his purchase to Barbara Walters during an interview for her special Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2005, which aired Tuesday.
"I bought a sonogram machine," Cruise told Walters during the interview, which was taped Oct. 30. "I am going to donate it to a hospital when we are done."
Somewhat startled, Walters replied, "Wait, you are going to do your own sonogram?"
"Yes," Cruise replied, chuckling.
The couch-jumping thesp told Walters that he did not know the sex of his offspring, but that he saw "a little baby" when he performed the ultrasound.
Cruise's purchase is estimated to have set him back anywhere from $15,000 to $200,000. However, the ACR is not convinced that the War of the Worlds star fully understands the complexities of the device.
"The ACR is concerned that Tom Cruise has been badly advised regarding the use and potential abuse of ultrasound," Dr. Rumack stated. "There are many abnormalities that may be missed by the untrained eye. Also, if it is not medically necessary, the use of ultrasound raises unnecessary physical risk to the fetus."
The ACR isn't the only organization concerned about Cruise's personal sonogram machine. According to the Food and Drug Administration, the actor may even be violating the law by possessing the device.
"Persons who promote, sell or lease ultrasound equipment for making 'keepsake' fetal videos should know that FDA views this as an unapproved use of a medical device," the FDA stated. "In addition, those who subject individuals to ultrasound exposure using a diagnostic ultrasound device (a prescription device) without a physician's order may be in violation of state or local laws or regulations regarding use of a prescription medical device."
Cruise's representatives did not respond to requests for comment on the sonogram issue.
Meanwhile, Cruise and Holmes have been taking a break from their at-home ultrasound project while spending time in Shanghai, where Cruise has been filming scenes for Mission: Impossible 3.
At a press roundup Wednesday, Cruise grabbed a cell phone from a reporter who dared to take a call during the event and began chatting to the surprised party at the other end.
"Put her on the phone. I want to talk to her," Cruise demanded, asking to talk to the female caller, whom he presumed to be the reporter's girlfriend.
"Hello. Xiexie. Ni hao. Are you good?" said Cruise, throwing out the Chinese words for "thank you" and "hello" like a natural.
"Are you good? Are you working?" he asked. "Are you going to get engaged? Soon? Maybe?"
After a translator stepped in to assist, it was revealed that the caller was actually the reporter's wife.
"Tell her I wish her happiness," Cruise said.
On the subject of his own wedding, Cruise remained teasingly elusive.
"You want to know where we're gonna get married? The exact date? The exact place? The color dress, designer?" he quizzed reporters. "You know, we haven't set a date...It will happen next year."
What a nutty guy. Poor Katie Holmes.
I'm not a medical professional, and the article doesn't go into it, so--anyone here know just what the dangers are?
Hmm. Is is a Science, or an Art?
No need go on the offensive. If the poster had experience, I wanted to hear about it. I don't need experience to err on caution.
There is no compelling reason for him to do frequent ultrasounds on a developing baby.
Ditto and it makes for an interesting start to the baby album, doesn't it? I suppose that hourly viewing or for that matter viewing for an hour is a whole different issue than even a once-a-week regime for a problem pregnancy. That might explain why we didn't face a mountain of paperwork.
Where in the Constitution does it say that the federal government exists to protect people from themselves? Stupid, uninformed behavior will happen with or without the government. That being the case, reduce the size and scope of the federal government by abolishing ridiculous federal departments that do more harm than good.
God will sort out the rest.
I felt the same way. When I read this I told my mom how dangerous this could be. I mean are they going to do 20 ultrasounds on that innocent baby? What a couple of kooks. This is the reason Tom had to impregnate a young kid - she has got to be the most naive and gullible kid to come down the pike in a long while. And she can't even act that great - they make a great pair.
there are unknown side effects from too ultrasounds. I hope he realizes this. That is why they have trained professionals managing this equipment.
I think you might be on to something. A large pez dispenser sounds great!
Attack? Gee-willikers, I asked if the poster had experience.
Calm down and move on.
Have there been any safety studies on pregnant women who have repeated ultrasounds?
Two good John Stossel columns on the FDA if you haven't seen them:
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Health/story?id=858453&page=1
http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/JohnStossel/2005/06/01/15597.html
Bump for later
That's a good point. Some MDs are hypocrits on these isses but you will never convince me that multiple ultrasounds of a fetus are good. I suppose if you have enough money, they'll soon be allowing you to buy your own MRI machine too (oh and don't forget the newer machine that does the PET scans - the cost for this procedure is 7K; I know because my mom just had one).
I'm not sure what 'specific studies' this refers to, no...
Too funny. Something is seriously wrong with Tom. I know he believes aliens came here 75 million years ago. More and more, I think he is providing us good evidence that not only did they come but they apparently reproduced as he is a sure-fire descendent.
The fetus is being bombarded with soundwaves. It is unknown what the harmful effects can be. And with him purchasing the equipment using it whenever he has a whim, maybe we will all find out what those side effects are when their child is born.
I had to have ultrasounds, ONE for each pregnancy. I didnot go out and purchase one to do sonograms of my unborn child for entertainment purposes.
Next thing we are going to hear is that their sonogram is available on the internet. These two are just silly and have too much money to play with...
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