Family of Long Island man killed in MRI machine mishap while wearing 20-pound chain poised to sue: ‘Ensure accountability'
Keith McAllister, 61, was sucked into the magnetic force of an MRI machine at Nassau Open MRI on July 16, later suffering three heart attacks and dying from his injuries.
Michael Lauterborn, an attorney for McAllister's widow Adrienne Jones-McAllister, said the family is now seeking 'accountability' for the freak accident.
Advertisement
3 Keith McAllister, 61, suffered multiple heart attacks after he was sucked into an MRI machine by his 20-pound metal chain.
Facebook/Karim McAllister
3 The MRI machine could have pulled McAllister with enough force to snap his neck, an expert told The Post.
Brigitte Stelzer
'This heartbreaking incident highlights the critical importance of safety protocols in medical imaging facilities,' Lauterborn, an attorney with Cheung & Laterborn, said in a statement. 'The family and our legal team are dedicated to assisting the appropriate authorities in their investigation and in efforts to ensure accountability and prevent similar tragedies in the future.'
Advertisement
The attorney said the family is 'devastated and seeking answers' and called for privacy as they await further information.
3 Nassau Open MRI has not responded to multiple requests for comment.
Brigitte Stelzer
Jones-McAllister told local news network News 12 Long Island that her husband had been let into the exam room by a technician to help her get back on her feet at the end of an appointment.
Advertisement
McAllister wore the massive necklace as part of his weight training, his wife told the outlet. Jones-McAllister said she and a technician had struggled to try to free McAllister from the machine for almost an hour.
Nassau Open MRI has not responded to multiple requests for comment.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNET
3 hours ago
- CNET
Jury Decides Meta Stole Data from Users of Period-Tracking App: What to Do If You're Worried
A California jury ruled Wednesday that Meta broke state privacy laws by collecting data from the popular Flo app, including private health data and pregnancy goals. The case claimed that, among other actions, Meta used the data to create targeted advertising content. As Meta claims it will fight the verdict, the court continues to decide specific financial damages – and the plaintiffs have asked for billions. A representative for Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The consolidated Flo lawsuit dates to 2021, when users of the Flo app accused major tech companies of harvesting their data and actions on the period-tracking app, which included personal profiles about their menstrual cycles, sexual activity, pregnancy history and a variety of other personal health information. Originally, the lawsuit included the creators of the Flo app, Google, and the analytics company Flurry, as well as Meta. All the other companies settled, most recently Flo Health in late July, leaving only Meta to continue with the trial, which has now concluded. The primary accusation of the lawsuit revolves around the software development kit from Meta--then known as Facebook--that Flo Health incorporated into its app. This kit allowed Flo to send different types of user data to Facebook, including buttons users clicked and data they shared with the app. The lawsuit claimed this violated the California Invasion of Privacy Act. The jury agreed that Meta had intentionally eavesdropped on the plaintiffs when they had a reasonable expectation of privacy, and did not have consent to eavesdrop or record data in this way. Meta, on the other hand, denies the jury's verdict is correct. According to reports, the company will appeal the decision and has stated, "The plaintiffs' claims against Meta are simply false. User privacy is important to Meta, which is why we do not want health or other sensitive information and why our terms prohibit developers from sending any." Should you be worried about using the Flo app? Tracking periods on an app may not be the most efficient option, anyway. EKIN KIZILKAYA via Getty The good news is that when Flo settled in 2021, part of the bargain was to arrange an independent privacy review and require explicit consent when sharing data. So if you've been using Flo for the past several years, your data has probably been safe from this particular problem. But issues with data harvesting and sharing like this raise broader questions about how safe it is to use health apps if you're concerned with privacy. Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives. CNET has guides on how wearables like the Oura ring can help track period data without the same problematic privacy past. We've also covered ways to track menstrual cycles without relying on an app at all, so you have plenty of alternatives.
Scientific American
8 hours ago
- Scientific American
MRI Accidents Explained: What Causes Deaths and Injuries in Scanners
Last month a man on Long Island died after he was pulled into a magnetic resonance imaging scanner by a large metal chain he was wearing around his neck. It's not the first time an MRI scanner has proved to be a death trap. In this latest case, according to media reports, the man had accompanied his wife to the MRI center and was waiting outside the exam room while her knee was being scanned. When the procedure was completed, she called him over so that he could help her stand up. The man entered the MRI room, and a 20-pound chain he was wearing around his neck for weight training was immediately attracted to the magnet in the MRI. It pulled the man's body with it, hurled him against the scanner and trapped him there. He sustained serious injuries and was pronounced dead at a hospital the following day. How could this happen? An MRI scanner uses magnetic fields generated by metal coils in its core, and other fields are then added in pulses. In simple terms, a static magnetic field orients the nuclei of hydrogen atoms in the body so they're all facing the same direction; the magnetic pulses briefly redirect the nuclei, and then they align themselves in parallel again. The scanner detects these shifts and uses them to create images of the tissue. On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. In terms of safety, the problem is that, as current flows through the device, it becomes a huge and extremely powerful electromagnet. Ferromagnetic materials—which, at room temperature, include iron, cobalt, nickel and some metal alloys—are attracted to it with a great deal of force. That means metallic objects that come close to a switched on MRI can become dangerous projectiles. So there's a good reason why metal parts are taboo in and around MRI machines. In preparation for a scan, patients are asked to remove any metal objects they are carrying. When people don't follow this instruction, serious accidents can occur. In 2023 a Brazilian man took a loaded firearm into the MRI room where he was accompanying his mother. The magnet pulled the gun out of his waistband, and a shot went off when it hit the scanner. The bullet hit the man in the abdomen, causing a fatal injury. Similar weapon discharges have also occurred in the U.S., fortunately with less serious outcomes, including a 2012 incident in New York State that involved an off-duty police officer. Before a patient is brought in for a scan, they're asked whether they have any medical or cosmetic implants containing metal in their body. These can include pacemakers, stents, piercings and screws in bones. Metal residue from gunshot wounds must also be reported. The staff then check whether the objects could cause problems. In the end, most metal objects inside the body pose no danger to patients. But if they're overlooked, things can get ugly. Projectile fragments and metal shavings that have penetrated the tissue as a result of gunshot wounds or accidents may travel a few millimeters during the scan. Doctors consider very carefully whether an MRI is too risky in the presence of such foreign bodies and then switch to other imaging procedures if necessary. Small metal particles also sometimes move back and forth around their own axis and in confined spaces. This can cause them to heat up dangerously. There can even be problems with tattoos that contain certain metallic inks. In one case, a tattooed professional football player sustained burns during a pelvic MRI scan. 'At-risk' tattoos are those with black pigment or any other pigments containing iron oxide, as well as those with a design that displays loops, large circular objects or multiple adjacent points. In one extreme example of internal metal objects causing damage during an MRI scan, a woman wore a sex toy into the MRI without the knowledge of the clinic staff. Most of these toys are made of silicone, a plastic that should be unproblematic in the magnet, but to the surprise of those present, especially the woman being examined, this one did contain ferromagnetic material. As a result, she suffered unspecified internal injuries and had to be admitted to a hospital. In general, MRIs are very safe when used properly. Technicians perform tens of thousands of scans every year without causing any damage to those being examined. Serious accidents involving overlooked or unreported ferromagnetic materials are very rare. But it's important that MRI patients follow one cardinal rule: leave the metal outside the scanning room. It's Time to Stand Up for Science Before you close the page, we need to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and we think right now is the most critical moment in that two-century history. We're not asking for charity. If you to Scientific American, you can help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both future and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself often goes unrecognized.
UPI
18 hours ago
- UPI
4 dead after medical transport plane crashes in Arizona
A medical transport plane crashed Tuesday in northeastern Arizona, killing four people on board. Photo courtesy of Navajo Police Department/ Facebook Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Four medical personnel died Tuesday when their medical transport plane crashed in northeastern Arizona en route to pick up a patient, officials said. The Beechcraft 300 aircraft crashed while landing at Chinle Municipal Airport, located about 325 miles northeast of Phoenix, at about 12:35 p.m. MST, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement, adding that it and the National Transportation Safety Board would investigate. Though the FAA said three people were on board, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said the aircraft's four medical personnel had died. "These were people who dedicated their lives to saving others, and their loss is felt deeply across the Navajo Nation," Nygren said in a statement posted to Facebook. "Our prayers are with the families of those on the plane as investigations continue. May the Creator bring comfort and strength in the days ahead for the friends and families involved." The identities of the deceased were not made public, but Nygren described them as "non-local." The Navajo Police Department said in a statement that the aircraft was landing to pick up a patient from a nearby hospital. It said next-of-kin notifications had been conducted by the aircraft company, CIS Aviation, out of Albuquerque, N. M. UPI has contacted CIS Aviation for comment.
