During a June 2023 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) screening, a 57-year-old Wisconsin woman suffered a gun wound to her buns. Despite being asked if she had any potentially dangerous objects on her during the screening, she denied it. Even when specifically asked if she was packing a gun, the woman still denied having a weapon.
And yet, she must have because the gun went off in the middle of the MRI.
Rightfully reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) a month after the discharge, it is believed that the strong pull of attraction created by the spinning magnets pulled the hammer forward and caused the primer to be struck. Thankfully though, her injuries were minor, with a doctor’s exam confirming it was nothing more than a through and through.
Making the situation more bizarre is how an MRI is typically done. Patients are told to strip down and don a simple gown. Jewelry, piercings, cellphones, and weapons are all typically banned from the MRI room. Even implanted jewelry, pacemakers, or mesh from hernia surgery needs to be identified before proceeding with an MRI.
As multiple videos on social media have shown, the power of an MRI machine to pull in even the smallest of objects from 5+ feet away is incredible. Keeping metal objects out of the room is MRI tech knowledge at the 101 level. I mean, it’s only spinning magnets creating an immense magnetic field, creating images of the body’s inner workings, and using radio wave pulses. Can’t be that bad, right?
For what it’s worth, nobody has officially stated how she was positioned, concealing the weapon, or if she was even disrobed. No charges have been filed in the incident, but it certainly underlines the need for honesty with your medical professionals, as well as taking all directions from the tower.
