Ian Donald School Book 09.indb - World Association of Perinatal ...

Chapter 2. THE HISTORY OF IAN DONALD SCHOOLmind since the very beginning and, in the book I wrote with SALVATOR LEVI in1973, I dealt at length with all that was then known about possible bioeffects.I have seen nothing fresh of much significance 6 Donald School Textbookof Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology since then. Meanwhile, hundreds ofthousands of babies must by now have been screened by sonar all over theworld and still there is no sign of trouble.Surprisingly enough, legal liability seems to have turned in the opposite direction,and a doctor is more likely now to be prosecuted for failing to make useof ultrasonic diagnosis in pregnancy in cases where a baby’s misfortune orhandicap is alleged to be due to negligence in this respect. The wellrecogni -zed uses, however, so far outweigh theoretical hazards for which there is asyet no convincing proof that the subject has become truly entrenched in theclinician’s diagnostic repertoire.For me personally, the ultimate climax to the ultrasonic art with which I havebeen associated is the filming of very early fetal life. To be able to study in realtime a baby’s reactions to all manner of stimuli opens up an enormous field ofdynamic research which is, as yet, barely touched upon. I leave this excitingfield to you.When a pupil can teach his teacher, as I now recognize, then it is not only timeto stop but also to rejoice at the newly found success of his one-time disciple.For myself, I do not think that I deserve more acknowledgement than a manwho happens to win a football pool. Nevertheless, I trust that I may be forgivenfor feeling proud of so many of you, proud to have been invited here with mywife to this opening, proud of who and what you are and proud of whatI know you will achieve.Thank you!REFERENCES1. Unpublished speech of the late Ian Donald on the occasion of the opening of the Ian DonaldSchool of Medical Ultrasound in 1982.28