MRI Safety Under Scrutiny: Surge in Reported Incidents Raises Alarms

In recent months, there has been an increase in reported MRI safety accidents in the USA. These accidents involve wheelchairs, IV poles, and oxygen cylinders, all ferromagnetic objects, being pulled with great force toward the magnet and getting stuck. While only a few of the latest reported events have resulted in patient or staff injury, the reality is that no incident in the MRI room should be taken lightly, considering the risk projectile incidents pose in the MRI suite.

It is common knowledge among MRI safety experts that incidents in the MRI suite are often underreported due to institutional and legal challenges. Information is not widely shared with the public to increase awareness around the risks of projectile hazards or to educate the MRI safety and medical community in general about the leading causes of accidents and how to stop them from happening.

Whether accidents are increasing in number or not is difficult to determine, but we do know that they are ever more being shared on the news and social media, and it’s important to discuss them.

There are several potential causes for this alarming trend, including complacency among staff who may have become too familiar with MRI safety protocols and become less diligent in following them. Staff shortages or burnout could result in decreased attention to detail and a greater likelihood of mistakes. Another possibility is that safety processes or new technology are being ignored or not fully understood, leading to avoidable accidents.

At the same time, with the number of annual procedures going up and medical technology advances, there are more opportunities than ever for things to go wrong in the MRI suite. One of the challenges arises from remote scanning, where experienced licensed technicians are unable to observe patients as they enter the MRI room directly. This lack of direct oversight can lead to difficulties in ensuring patient safety.

Regardless of the cause, healthcare providers and facilities must remain vigilant in their efforts to prevent MRI safety accidents through ongoing training, open communication about any concerns or incidents that occur, adherence to safety protocols, and going beyond the minimum requirements set by the American College of Radiology (ACR) and The Joint Commission to ensure the safety of their patients and staff, for example, by implementing ferromagnetic detection (FMD) systems to eliminate the risk of projectile incidents and patient injuries.

Ultimately, it’s up to the providers to take responsibility and ensure that MRI safety best practices are followed to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of their patients and medical staff.