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<p>Government guidelines on preoperative pregnancy checks are set out in the National
Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance: ‘Preoperative Tests: The
use of routine preoperative tests for elective surgery'</p><p>(<a href="http://www.guidance.nice.org.uk/CG3/Guidance"
target="_blank">www.guidance.nice.org.uk/CG3/Guidance</a>), published in June 2003.</p><p>
</p><p>This guidance states that:</p><p> </p><p>- The need to test for pregnancy depends
on the risk presented to the fetus by the anaesthetic and surgery. All women of child-bearing
age should be asked sensitively whether or not there is any chance that they may be
pregnant.</p><p> </p><p>- Women must be made aware of the risks of surgery to the
fetus.</p><p> </p><p>- A pregnancy test should be carried out with the woman's consent
if there is any doubt about whether she may be pregnant.</p><p> </p><p>- Before having
a chest x-ray, all women of childbearing age should be asked sensitively whether they
may be pregnant.</p><p> </p><p>NHS Medical Director Sir Bruce Keogh has recently requested
that NICE review its guidelines on preoperative tests in relation to potential pregnancy.
This will include an assessment of whether the current guidelines covering preoperative
pregnancy checks are sufficient in preventing risks to the unborn child.</p><p> </p><p>Guidance
on pregnancy checks has also been produced by the Royal College of Paediatrics and
Child Health (<a href="http://www.rcpch.ac.uk/pregnancychecks" target="_blank">www.rcpch.ac.uk/pregnancychecks</a>)
and the Royal College of Surgeons (<a href="http://www.rcseng.ac.uk/publications/docs/preop_test.html"
target="_blank">www.rcseng.ac.uk/publications/docs/preop_test.html</a>).</p><p> </p><p>These
guidelines are equally applicable to the NHS and private medical institutions.</p><p>
</p><p> </p>
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