Person perishes following magnet pulling incident during MRI examination, authorities report, due to a metal chain he was wearing.
In a tragic incident, a 61-year-old man, whose identity remains undisclosed, lost his life after being drawn into an MRI machine at Nassau Open MRI in Westbury, New York, on Thursday. The man was wearing a large metallic chain around his neck, which led to the unfortunate accident[1].
The incident has prompted renewed calls for strict safety measures to prevent accidents caused by metallic objects in MRI environments. MRI, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, is a non-invasive imaging technique often used for disease detection and diagnosis[2]. However, the technology relies on powerful magnets that can pose a threat to those wearing metallic objects or have them implanted[3].
Dr. Rebecca Smith-Bindman, a radiologist, warns that anything magnetic, from small items like keys to large objects like oxygen tanks, can become projectiles in an MRI room[4]. In 2001, a 6-year-old boy was killed during an MRI at a hospital in Valhalla, New York, when a metal oxygen tank flew across the room and struck him, causing fatal blunt force trauma injuries[5].
To prevent such incidents, key safety measures must be followed. These include the complete removal of all metal and electronic objects before entering the MRI room, rigorous metal screening protocols for both patients and staff, clear signage and staff enforcement to prevent unauthorized entry during scans, pre-procedure safety questionnaires and discussions to identify any implanted medical devices or metal fragments inside the body, and special caution for individuals with oxygen tanks, wheelchairs, or metallic prosthetics[6].
The US Food and Drug Administration emphasizes the importance of these measures, stating that such incidents are rare but stressing the need for precautions to ensure safety[7]. The investigation into the recent incident is ongoing.
Jones-McAllister, the man's wife, stated that her husband was wearing a 20-pound chain with a large lock around his neck for weight training[1]. The technician and Jones-McAllister tried to pry the man away from the MRI machine, but it was too late.
This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to robust MRI safety protocols, metal screening, and education to prevent accidents related to metallic objects in MRI environments[8].
[1] https://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/man-dies-after-being-pulled-into-mri-machine-1.43005644 [2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1265931/ [3] https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/products-and-medical-procedures/mri-safety-and-pacemakers [4] https://www.cnn.com/2011/09/27/health/mri-safety/index.html [5] https://www.cnn.com/2001/US/08/21/mri.death.ap/index.html [6] https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/mri-safety [7] https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/products-and-medical-procedures/mri-safety-and-pacemakers [8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1265931/
- Strict adherence to the removal of all metal objects before MRI scans is crucial to prevent accidents like the one involving a 61-year-old man, who lost his life after wearing a large metallic chain around his neck during a scan.
- To prevent similar health-and-wellness concerns in MRI environments, medical-conditions associated with the use of metallic objects such as large chains need to be considered while implementing general-news protocols for screenings and safety measures.
- The recent incident serves as a reminder of the general-news implications of metallic objects in MRI scans, which can pose serious threats and, if not handled properly, may lead to accidents causing harm or even fatalities.
