Birth Small Talk

Fetal monitoring information you can trust

CTG

Cardiotocograph monitoring

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Why artificial intelligence systems for fetal monitoring are so seductive to healthcare systems (and why that is a huge ethical problem)

Fetal heart rate monitoring traditionally involves professionals interpreting patterns, but technology has introduced complex, expensive systems aimed at improving outcomes. Despite this, there are ethical concerns regarding women’s consent and data use. The focus appears to prioritize cost reduction for healthcare systems over meaningful enhancements in maternal and fetal care outcomes.

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Why bother?

If you have been hanging around Birth Small Talk for more than a moment, you’ll know I’m very focussed on putting the evidence about fetal heart rate monitoring in front of as many people as possible. And you’ll know that this position puts me at odds with a lot of what most people will hear in mainstream maternity services. So I get some pushback from time to time. And even […]

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Human rights and artificial intelligence in healthcare

Recent publications on fetal monitoring highlight the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in interpreting CTG recordings. While advancements promise decision-support systems, rights issues remain. Ploug and colleagues emphasize the need for regulations in AI-driven healthcare to protect people’s rights, urging the integration of these considerations into technology development from the outset.

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Are all fetuses the same?

In the past two decades, standardized approaches to cardiotocography (CTG) interpretation have evolved. They don’t take into account that specific fetal heart rate patterns may vary by fetal sex and age. There is a need for individualised interpretation as standard guidelines may not account for all fetal characteristics, potentially leading to misinterpretation and harm.

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