Hi to you all from the wintry south.
I really appreciate the interesting conversations and information on this
list. I am a regular lurker, but could not hold myself back on this one!
I am really concerned about the potential application of an intelligent
electronic CTG system. Firstly, how reliable are CTGs in actually telling
the story. If the woman is at an odd angle, the baby sleeping, the mother
anxious etc, all, in my experience, impact on the CTG tracing. How are you
going to get it right for the computer. Place women in a moulded bed (I hope
I am not giving anyone ideas), in a specifically simulated environment? No
matter how hard you will not replicate the 'normal' environment for that
women, so how can you determine the 'cause' of an 'irregular' CTG tracing?
What about the human dimension. Pregnancy and birthing are generally anxiety
provoking for most women. I could not imagine anything worse than being
lined up, placed in an artificial position (most pregnant women do not lie
still all day) and being told by someone else how your baby is. Are we
taking away from women their ability to judge their bodies and from midwives
the skills of knowing the subtle changes that occur in pregnancy and birth
and the 'symptoms' displayed by mother and baby as a result? What about the
effect of environment?
I really think we need to step back and think about the long term effects
for both us and women of the belief that we can safely electronically
observe pregnancy and childbirth. This has the potential to further create a
dependence on technology in pregnancy and childbirth which leads to a loss
of skills. What about the routine use of scans to determine DOB even when
the woman can pin point the date of conception!!
I am not anti technology, but I think we need to include a philosophical
critique of the potential for such technology to guide development.
Chris Hendry
(03-3489-347) or
(021-655-355)
----- Original Message -----
From: Gloria Lankshear <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2003 4:07 AM
Subject: Computerised Decision support systems/intelligent systems
> Dear list members,
>
> I am studying a computerised decision support system which is going to be
implemented into a NHS delivery suite shortly. It is a system that will
assist in interpreting the CTG reading of the fetal heart rate.
>
> In my literature searches I have come across many papers on the design of
expert systems and intelligent systems but no papers except the following
asking the users what they think of such systems and whether they are indeed
helpful.
>
> Hartland, J. (1993), 'The use of intelligent machines for
electrocardiograph interpretation', in Button, G. (ed.), Technology in
Working Order.
>
> Have any members had any experience of such systems themselves? Or do they
know of such systems in actual use, rather than in the design stage. I have
read about MYCIN.
>
>
>
> Thanks
>
>
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