In a recent incident, a 57-year-old woman entered an MRI suite with a concealed handgun. Despite standard screening procedures that include questions about metallic objects and weapons, the patient had denied carrying any.
As she was positioned within the MRI machine, the powerful magnetic field attracted the firearm, causing it to discharge a single shot into her right buttock area.
Fortunately, the injury was superficial, penetrating only the subcutaneous tissue. This event underscores the critical importance of adhering to MRI safety protocols, which strictly prohibit metallic objects in the scanning area due to the machine’s strong magnetic fields.
Patients are always advised to thoroughly remove all metal items and disclose any implants or devices before undergoing an MRI to prevent such hazardous occurrences.
