Long Island man critically injured after entering MRI room without permission and being sucked into machine, cops say
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A man in Long Island , New York was critically injured after he entered an MRI room without permission while wearing large, metallic chain around his neck.
The incident occurred at Nassau Open MRI around 4:30pm Wednesday, according to Nassau County police. The magnetic pull of the MRI machine dragged the man into the machine by way of his metal chain.
The man was not supposed to be in the room, and it is unclear based on initial reports why he entered.
Police said the man suffered a "medical episode" and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. He was last described as being in critical condition, PIX11 reports .
MRI machines are designed to find ailments in the body using powerful magnets. The magnets create a strong magnetic field which is used in scanning bodies.
The machines can then produce an image of a person's soft tissue that allow doctors to look for abnormalities, like tumors, or damage to internal organs, according to the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering .
“The magnetic field extends beyond the machine and exerts very powerful forces on objects of iron, some steels, and other magnetizable objects; it is strong enough to fling a wheelchair across the room,” the institute explains.
This is why MRI technicians are thorough when making sure that patients have no metal on their person — or inside their bodies — before they are imaged using an MRI machine.
"The static magnetic field of the MRI system is exceptionally strong. A 1.5 T magnet generates a magnetic that is approximately 21,000 greater than the earth's natural field," according to the University of California, San Francisco's Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging .
The department noted in a write-up about the potential hazards of MRI machines that magnetic metal objects "can become airborne projectiles". Even small objects — like paper clips or hairpins — can reach a terminal velocity of 40mph when pulled by an MRI's magnets.
In addition to the potential dangers from flying metal, MRI machine magnets can also erase credit cards, destroy phones, and shut down pacemakers.
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Lol, just when you thought you had seen it all
Imagine the look of shock on his face as he went flying across the room. Thinking they should maybe put a lock on the door to the MRI room
Wasn't there someone at the controls? Was there a patient in the MRI? Why was the machine operating if there was not patient in the scanner?
questions questions
According to Google's AI overview:
Thank-you. I didn't know they were permanently "on"
I didn't either, until this story prompted me to look it up.
All very good questions Trout, none of which I know the answers to
It's been released that the incident occurred when the man walked into the MRI room while a scan was being performed. The story doesn't identify him or if there is any relationship to the person who was in the machine for the scan. It also doesn't say how the man entered the room.
I was working in IT for a local hospital many years back and they were installing their first MRI machine. Had to build a special room that also included a copper faraday cage to reduce the magnetic force beyond the room. Access to the actual MRI room was only thru a single door in the control room and that door had an auto-locking feature to prevent unauthorized access.
I have no idea how this room was built and if there were any safeguards that had failed.
I also had an MRI myself a few years back in an open MRI machine. While access to the room was controlled (you could only enter the room thru a single door in the control room) it did not have a separate lock. Also the machine was different in that we did not have to worry about metal on our bodies and in fact I was told that I didn't have to worry about my wallet as the machine would not destroy my credit card. And the card continued to work just fine after the scan.
I know, lots of excess information but I've been on vacation for a couple of weeks so my fingers are really fresh for typing. LOL
Thank you for that information.
The last time I had an MRI was a while ago but I had a couple of CAT scans when I had a car accident. I still had to take off all my metal (earrings, belt, rings)
Yep, one huge assed magnet.
Now, he'll quit bragging about his 14K chain.
If he paid 14K for it he got ripped off since neither gold, silver or platinum is magnetic
Apparently it may be a bit complicated:
Yes when mixed with other metals they can appear to be magnetic but they are not magnetic on their own
IIRC, a lot of these specialized magnets are made with some rare Earth Metals in them.
As America's great philosopher said: "Stupid is as stupid does."
MRI machines were just coming into the mainstream in the early 80’s at the hospital I worked at. We were warned remove all metal and our wallets before we went near the machine. The magnetic field would smoke your credit cards magnetic strip making them useless in a credit card reader.
Bad juju if you were buying at happy hour …..
I just saw a headline from the New York Times reporting that he has died.
I just saw a headline from the New York Times reporting that he has died.
A candidate for the Darwin Award!
That's too bad, while his story had some humour value no one wanted that
This happens with some frequency. I installed the HVA/C in 2 MRI places. Had to order special grills made of aluminum and special flexible duct with plastic ribbing. Also had to be sure to make a non-conductive break between the inside and outside. The entire machine is enclosed in a Faraday box. A big copper box encloses the entire room, including the floor. Ventilation pipes have a wooden frame that they connect to from both sides to prevent any current going in or out. What I'm saying is it's a big deal to have metal in there.
I've heard of people with nipple rings, etc being shredded. A man took a gun into one a few years back, that turned out badly.
Should have been an interlock on that door to prevent this kind of thing. A lot of people get spooked just from being in one of those machines.
From my understanding of a follow up article he went in following the technician after his wifes scan (the patient) to help her get off the table. Unfortunately he was wearing a big steel chain at the time
Same here. Designed a couple of those rooms as well. Not earth shattering stuff but it ain’t your average HVAC system that’s for sure. We had few problems after the original startup. Several of our mobile MRI’s were more problematic. We actually bought metal detector wands to check out anyone who went in those rooms. It’s so easy to forget what you have on your body or pocket.