MRI Safety Still a Concern, But National Guidance Lacking

Last October, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held a meeting to examine the biggest MRI safety concerns and outline best practices to reduce injuries associated with the scans. So far, however, the industry has received no national guidance on how to accomplish this goal. But the lack of official instruction at the federal level doesn’t mean the push toward greater MRI safety - being recognized this week during MRI Safety Week - has stalled. Advancements are underway at the state level and in the accreditation process to prevent another tragedy, such as the 2001 Colombini case when a 6-year-old boy died when an oxygen tank flew across the room and struck him during the imaging process.

“Any protection that is implemented will benefit the 30 million Americans who get MRIs on an annual basis,” said Tobias Gilk, president and MRI safety director at Mednovus and senior vice president at the design and architecture firm Rad-Planning.

“People are beginning to look harder at MRI risk factors as the power of our magnets continue to increase.”