A 61-year-old male patient sustained serious injuries when he was dragged into an MRI machine at a center in Long Island, New York, with a metal chain around his neck.
The accident happened at Nassau Open MRI on Old Country Road in Westbury at about 4:30 pm on Wednesday, according to NBC 4 New York.
The intense magnetic field of the MRI scanner pulled the chain and pulled the man towards the machine, the report said. The authorities verified the incident resulted in a ‘medical episode’, but no other information about his injuries or his condition has been released.
It is not clear if the man was a patient at the facility or why he went into the MRI room during a scan in process. Emergency services were alerted at the scene after a 911 call was placed from the facility.
Social Media Reactions
The incident has sparked widespread outrage and debate on social media.
A user asked, “The door to the room where they do the CT and MRI is locked when the machine is operating in the hospital. Did this fellow just walk into the room with a patient who was receiving a test?”
Another commented, “What about the patient in the machine?” A third user responded, “What a crazy incident!” while a fourth observed, “The magnet is always on. even when the unit is not running.
The authorities have since opened an investigation into the accident and stressed the need for taking utmost care near MRI machinery. The accident has allegedly led to a safety review with the aim of avoiding similar accidents in the future.
Why MRI Machines Are Hazardous Near Metal Objects
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanners work with strong magnets that are on at all times—even when a scan isn’t being done. Because of this magnetic force, every piece of metal within close proximity can become a potential lethal projectile. Consequently, individuals are strictly told to remove all metal objects far from MRI rooms to prevent potentially fatal accidents.
