MRI room turns deadly: How a 61-year-old man's necklace cost him his life
NBC New York reported that the man entered the MRI room while the machine was already running, wearing a substantial metal chain around his neck. It remains unclear whether he was a patient or simply visiting the facility. According to CBS News, a witness stated that the man had been warned not to enter but rushed in after reportedly hearing a relative scream.
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The powerful magnetic force of the MRI machine turned the metal necklace into a deadly projectile. Charles Winterfeldt, director of imaging services at North Shore University Hospital, explained to CBS, 'It [the necklace] would act like a torpedo trying to get into the middle of the center of the magnet.'
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In response to the incident, New York's Department of Health acknowledged a regulatory gap in MRI facility oversight, stating, 'MRI facilities in NY are not regulated as part of diagnostic and treatment centers, so are therefore not subject to routine inspections.' An investigation into the fatal accident is now underway.
Understanding the dangers of MRI machines
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a vital diagnostic tool that uses extremely strong magnetic fields and radiofrequency waves to produce detailed images of the body's internal structures. However, the same magnetic power poses serious risks when metal objects are present in the room.
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Even the smallest metal item can be transformed into a high-speed projectile. Speaking to CBS News, Dr. Payal Sud from North Shore University Hospital emphasized the importance of safety protocols: 'The dangers [of not following protocol] could be catastrophic, and it underscores why we have all the safety precautions in place. If this was a chain that was wrapped around the neck, I could imagine any kind of strangulation injuries that could happen. Asphyxiation, cervical spine injuries.'
While rare, fatal and serious injuries linked to MRI equipment have occurred before. In a 2001 case in New York, a six-year-old boy died after a metal oxygen tank was pulled into the machine during his scan. In 2018, a man in India was killed in a similar manner. More recently, in 2023, a nurse in California sustained severe injuries after being crushed between an MRI unit and a hospital bed pulled by magnetic force.
As highlighted by The New York Times, the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering has consistently warned of these dangers: the magnetic field is so powerful it can even 'fling a wheelchair across the room.' This is why strict protocols are in place, and patients are required to remove all metallic objects—including jewelry, piercings, and sometimes implants—before entering the MRI suite.
[Inputs from TOI]
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