A tragic incident during a routine MRI exam led to the death of a young boy. Six-year-old Michael Colombini sustained fatal injuries when a metal oxygen tank was propelled across the room by the MRI machine’s powerful magnetic field, resulting in severe head trauma. Despite efforts to save him, Michael succumbed to his injuries two days later.
The MRI scan was part of Michael’s post-surgery follow-up for a benign brain tumor. The procedure took place at Westchester Medical Center, situated in Valhalla, just north of New York City. Following the tragic event, Edward Stolzenberg, the medical center’s president and CEO, took full responsibility and expressed deep condolences to the family.
MRI scanners are essential medical tools that use magnetic forces and radio frequencies to create detailed internal body images for diagnostic purposes. While generally safe, rare accidents like this serve as reminders of the importance of following safety protocols during MRI procedures.
In a separate incident last year in the US, a 61-year-old man, Keith McAllister, lost his life in a similar MRI accident at Nassau Open MRI in Westbury, Long Island. His wife, Adrienne Jones-McAllister, recounted the heartbreaking event, mentioning that her husband was pulled into the machine by his necklace, leading to fatal injuries.
MRI safety guidelines emphasize the removal of all metal objects before entering the scanning room due to the strong magnetic field. Despite these precautions, tragedies like these underscore the need for strict adherence to safety procedures to prevent such devastating accidents from reoccurring.