‘You're looking for different parts in a jigsaw’: foetal MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) as an emerging technology in professional practice

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was first introduced into clinical practice during the 1980s. Originally used as a diagnostic tool to take pictures of the brain, spine, and joints, it is now used to visualise a range of organs and soft tissue around the body. Developments in clinical applications of the technology are rapid and it is often viewed as the 'gold standard' in many areas of medicine. However, most existing sociological work on MRI tends to focus on the profession of radiology, little is known about the impact of MRI on a broader range of clinical practice. This article focuses on MRI use in pregnancy, a relatively new application of the technology. Drawing on empirical research with a range of health professionals (from radiologists to pathologists) in the North of England, this article asks: how do different types of health professionals engage with the technology and to what end? It will argue that MRI use in pregnancy offers an increasingly important piece of the diagnostic jigsaw, often acting as a bridging technology between medical specialties. The implications of this will be explored in the context of broader sociological debates on the 'visualisation' of medicine and its impact on professionals.

MRI in the diagnosis of fetal developmental brain abnormalities: the MERIDIAN diagnostic accuracy study

“…31 Research on health professionals' views of iuMRI is limited but suggests that iuMRI can function as a bridge for clinicians working across specialties. 76 Diagnosis in particular can be conceptualised as a 'powerful social tool', 77 therefore understanding health professionals' perspectives on innovation within the PND process is an important part of understanding its impact, and can offer insights to facilitate future developments. Well-informed policy development is crucial to enhance experiences of the PND for brain abnormality (often with uncertain outcomes).…”

Uncovering Hidden Emotional Work: Professional Practice in Paediatric Post-Mortem

“…Rather than invalidating the concepts of emotional work and management, however, we suggest this emphasises their applicability beyond specific units of analysis such as occupation. Given the increasing shift towards multi-disciplinary team-working, we suggest sociologists extend their existing focus, exploring emotional work and management along different clinical or other workplace pathways (Hunter and Segrott, 2014; Reed et al, 2016). Adopting this wider approach might enable us to see new patterns of emotional work emerging across professional groups both within and beyond the health sector.…”

“He looks gorgeous” – iuMR images and the transforming of foetal and parental identities

“…In their work on professional perspectives, Reed et al . (2016a) draw on Timmermans’ ‘technology‐in‐practice’ approach to draw out the role of MRI as “a bridging technology, a mediator between different types of professional practice and patient experience” (Reed et al . 2016a: 739).…”

“…(2016a) draw on Timmermans’ ‘technology‐in‐practice’ approach to draw out the role of MRI as “a bridging technology, a mediator between different types of professional practice and patient experience” (Reed et al . 2016a: 739). Our findings build on these themes, affirming the role of uncertainty, and strategies for managing uncertainty, as a key feature of the experience for those engaging with iuMRI in the more specific context of PND for brain anomaly.…”