MRI Mishap: A Bullet in the Buttock
This Exam Wasn't the Relaxing Time It's Supposed To Be
Did the patient really need this scan? That's a question you might be asking yourself after reading about the incident. The problem is, MRIs use powerful magnetic fields to create detailed images of the body's insides. And these fields are strong enough to attract metals.
Strictly Forbidden: Metal in MRI Rooms
Patients are usually monitored closely and are required to shed all metal items before entering the MRI tube. However, the 57-year-old woman in this case somehow managed to sneak a pistol into the room, and the result was a bullet that ended up in her bottom.
The Unfortunate Incident
The report from her insurance company to the FDA (US medical device and radiation safety compliance agency) states that the trigger of her gun came off, discharging the bullet straight into her right buttock region.
How She Managed to Bring a Weapon Inside
It's still unclear how she managed to bring the gun into the MRI room. Despite being checked for metal objects, she claimed she had none with her. The report states that she didn't have any metal objects on her.
MRIs: They're Not as Safe as You Think
Incidentally, accidents due to MRI machines are not as rare as one might think. In October, a nurse in a San Francisco hospital suffered injuries when she got trapped between an MRI machine and a hospital bed, and was forcibly pulled into the machine by the magnet. In January, a lawyer in São Paulo, Brazil, was killed when his gun in his waistband discharged and shot him in the stomach.
More Vigilance Needed
Despite the strict rules against bringing metal into MRI rooms in the US, this incident in Wisconsin highlights the need for even more vigilance. It's not just an isolated issue, as reported incidents from abroad corroborate. Stricter checks on patients could potentially prevent such incidents.
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