All MRI incidents must be reported!

We need a law to mandate the reporting of all MRI incidents.

Magnetic Resonance imaging is not a risk free procedure. An MRI is a safe procedure when administered properly, and safety procedures are enforced.

Pennsylvania is the only state that requires mandatory reporting of all MRI incidents (under Pennsylvania Act 13 of 2003). "Over a 10 year period the FDA cataloged a total of 389 incidents in MRI facilities across the US (an average rate of less than one incident per state per year). Contrast this with the data from the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority which, over just a 16-month period, tallied 88 MRI incidents from those facilities which are subject to mandatory state reporting". (MRI newsletter Aug 2006)

Most MRI accidents are not caused by machine malfunction but by human error, these do not usually get reported.


'in a poll of 105 organizations participating in a dial in seminar organized by a non profit health service research firm(ECRI) in September found nearly 60 percent have had MRI "incidents" including projectiles, burns, interference with implants. Most such incidents are not reported to food and drug administration, because reporting is voluntary and varies.' (Nuclear Medicine News NOV 13, 2005)

It is important to report all incidents, and near misses with a MRI procedure in order to determine the potential risks and avoid catastrophic consequences.