Implications of ultrasound scanning for midwives.

Obstetric ultrasound has revolutionized the management of pregnancy and gynaecological conditions for women worldwide, leading to its acceptance as the imaging modality of choice (Goldberg, 2000). However, alongside technical advances in imaging equipment, there has been a serious increase in medical litigation with obstetrics claims accounting for 60-70% of total (malpractice) sums paid by the NHS Litigation Authority. While midwives seek to extend the limits of their own practice to meet the needs of a constantly changing health service, the wider ramifications of this adjustment to practice need to be considered with regards to preparation for that role, and will be discussed in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]