Tragic Accident Involving MRI Machine Claims Life of 61-Year-Old Man

WESTBURY, N.Y. — A man who was pulled into an MRI machine in New York after he walked into the room wearing a large weight-training chain around his neck has died, according to police and his wife, who told a local television outlet that he waved goodbye before his body went limp.

The man, 61, had entered an MRI room while a scan was underway Wednesday afternoon at Nassau Open MRI. The machine’s strong magnetic force drew him in by the metallic chain around his neck, according to a release from the Nassau County Police Department.

Incident Details

He died Thursday afternoon, but a police officer who answered the phone at the Nassau County police precinct where the MRI facility is located said the department had not yet been given permission to release the name Saturday.

Adrienne Jones-McAllister told News 12 Long Island in a recorded interview that she was undergoing an MRI on her knee when she asked the technician to get her husband, Keith McAllister, to help her get off the table. She said she called out to him.

She told News 12 that the technician summoned into the room her husband, who was wearing a 20-pound chain that he uses for weight training, an object they’d had a casual conversation about during a previous visit with comments like: “Ooooooh, that’s a big chain!”

The Accident

When he got close to her, she said, “at that instant, the machine switched him around, pulled him in and he hit the MRI.”

“I said: ‘Could you turn off the machine, call 911, do something, Turn this damn thing off!’ ” she recalled, as tears ran down her face. “He went limp in my arms.”

She said the technician helped her try to pull her husband off the machine but it was impossible.

“He waved goodbye to me and then his whole body went limp,” Jones-McAllister told the TV outlet.

Aftermath

Jones-McAllister told News 12 that McAllister suffered heart attacks after he was freed from the MRI machine.

A person who answered the phone at Nassau Open MRI on Long Island declined to comment Friday. The phone number went unanswered on Saturday.

Similar Incidents

It wasn’t the first New York death to result from an MRI machine.

In 2001, 6-year-old Michael Colombini of Croton-on-Hudson was killed at the Westchester Medical Center when an oxygen tank flew into the chamber, drawn in by the MRI’s 10-ton electromagnet.

In 2010, records filed in Westchester County revealed that the family settled a lawsuit for $2.9 million.

How MRI Machines Work

MRI machines “employ a strong magnetic field” that “exerts very powerful forces on objects of iron, some steels, and other magnetizable objects,” according to the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, which says the units are “strong enough to fling a wheelchair across the room.”

Conclusion

The tragic accident involving the MRI machine is a stark reminder of the importance of safety protocols and precautions when working with powerful medical equipment. It is essential for medical professionals and patients to be aware of the potential risks and take necessary steps to prevent such incidents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What happened to the 61-year-old man?

A: The man was pulled into an MRI machine while wearing a large weight-training chain around his neck and died as a result of the accident.

Q: How did the accident occur?

A: The man entered the MRI room while a scan was underway, and the machine’s strong magnetic force drew him in by the metallic chain around his neck.

Q: Has this type of accident happened before?

A: Yes, there have been similar incidents in the past, including the death of a 6-year-old boy in 2001 who was killed when an oxygen tank flew into the MRI chamber.

Q: What can be done to prevent such accidents?

A: It is essential for medical professionals and patients to be aware of the potential risks and take necessary steps to prevent such incidents, including following safety protocols and precautions when working with powerful medical equipment.