Are sonograms "illegal" or "outlawed" in Europe and Australia?

**JenBKR** · 05-07-2007, 12:48 PM

Wow that sounds fishy to me. I honestly have no idea, but I am interested to hear others' responses. I can't imagine why they would be outlawed.....

**K9soul** · 05-07-2007, 12:51 PM

From what I could find in some googling (I was curious), I think it's a load of hogwash. I could find nothing to support that. I could only find some articles that India banned the use of prenatal ultrasounds to determine the sex of the child. I'd be shocked if someone confirms that lady's story is true. Perhaps the friend was advised against it (there are some studies that question the safety of them). Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will shed more light on it.

**Glacier** · 05-07-2007, 12:52 PM

I can't find anything official, but here are a couple links for you:
http://www.englishforum.ch/family-ma...ltrasound.html
First one is a BB thread about an Aussie woman who will be in Europe at the time she's due for an ultrasound and how easy it is to get one arranged there.
http://www.acegraphics.com.au/articles/wagner02.html
Second one is some guy from the WHO about safety concerns and policy in Europe(Some countries seem to only do scans on high risk women, others routinely).

I have a cousin who married and Australian man and lives just outside of Melbourne now. They have two sets of twins and I'll guarentee they had sonograms/ultrasounds. I've seen the pictures!

**Cataholic** · 05-07-2007, 01:00 PM

I love that I can count on you guys. I will wait for more info before I post anything else. , this other site is so off-putting at times.

**Edwina's Secretary** · 05-07-2007, 01:03 PM

Are you sure that a sonogram and an ultrasound are the same thing? I don't know but would check before I zinged!

**Cataholic** · 05-07-2007, 01:07 PM

A sonogram uses ultrasound waves..the terms are often used interchangably.

**Sirrahsim** · 05-07-2007, 01:42 PM

I have friends in both Europe and Australia on my parenting/pregnancy forum and they have all had sonograms!! What a bunch of phooey!!
I know that when I was in Japan I was told that they would not allow sonograms before a certain number of weeks to prevent people from aborting a baby of the "wrong" gender. Perhaps this person is just confused and needs to be enlightened

**Sirrahsim** · 05-07-2007, 01:47 PM

I'd be delighted to ask them directly and have them write something up for you if you'd like me to

**carole** · 05-07-2007, 06:43 PM

I cannot speak for my ozzie mates, but here in NZ it is NOT illegal to have ultrasounds on pregnant women, that is simply crazy, i imagine the same in OZ.