Freak Accident in Mountain View Exposes MRI Safety Flaws

KTVU ^ | September 6, 2024 | September 6, 2024

[nickcarraway]

A patient recently escaped a harrowing experience while waiting for an MRI in a Mountain View imaging room.

A trainee brought a wheelchair – one that wasn't made to be near an MRI machine – into the room. And because of the magnetic force of the machine, the wheelchair was sucked across the room, attaching itself sideways to the MRI scanner door, narrowly missing the patient.

This freak occurrence is raising concerns among safety advocates, including MRI safety expert, Tobias Gilk, who shared this example and images with KTVU. He said a witness sent him photos from Mountain View Center Imaging, operated by Sutter Health, on April 1. "There was a patient on the table and this trainee brought the non-MRI-safe-wheelchair into the room, then the magnet attracted it and went flying at the scanner," he said.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Every MRI room I’ve been in has had warning signs. Looks like the printer of this sign needs to update it…

[I-ambush]

At one hospital I was at previously, an X-ray tech had some extra time one night, so he decided to vacuum the MRI room. Tore up the inside of the machine, which had to be replaced (so was he).

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Did they ask “Is your nurse going to bring a wheelchair into the exam room?”

[HYPOCRACY]

It can suck the iron out of your blood like Magneto.

[nickcarraway]

Monk?

[nickcarraway]

It probably cost more than he makes in a year.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

A couple of family members and I totally agree with you. PAMF/Sutter Health has been excellent for us.

[I-ambush]

More like his career ($3 million)

[nickcarraway]

I worry about people who don’t realize they have medal. There are people who don’t even know who the president is.

[bigbob]

The power of a couple Teslas

[OldHarbor]

They ask a whole bunch of questions about metal in and on your body

They sure do, when I had mine , several different people asked at different times before I entered the MRI room.

A changing room was down the hall. Just you in your undies and a hospital gown go into the MRI room.

Was this Charlie’s No Mess MRI and Wheel Balancing Center ?

[nickcarraway]

I’ve been going there for almost ten years.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Of course, it could have been a LOT worse…

Lawyer Dies After Shot By His Own Concealed Gun Triggered By MRI Scanner

[nickcarraway]

Wow.

[Getready]

That’s not an MRI safety flaw. That’s a training flaw.
Typical click baiting headline.

[tina07]

Yes, despite being on different sides of the body, the doctor thought it was an enlarged spleen...idiot.

[PLMerite]

“DEI trainee”

He got it right, then.

[blackdog]

100% non magnetic stainless is extremely expensive and scarce. I had to retire due to magnetic fields in high voltage systems which I maintained (pacemaker)I also ran fluid systems that had stainless steel magnets inside to capture and catch fine stainless steel particles. So yes....most stainless is still magnetic to a much lesser degree than ferrous metals. Surgical stainless should not be. (316 Stainless)

Another interesting phenomenon happens when you run 4,160 volt current phased between plates spaced about a foot apart with a candle and flame in the middle. When the circuit is complete the flame from the candle will bend to a 90 degree right angle due to the rearranging or exciting of the atoms in the air.

[nwrep]

Gold and silver and other teeth fillings are not magnetic.

[NoLibZone]

The trainee should be fired and or removed from the program.