A tragic incident during a routine MRI examination resulted in the death of a young boy. Six-year-old Michael Colombini sustained fatal injuries when a metal oxygen tank was propelled by the MRI machine’s powerful magnetic field, causing severe head trauma. The incident occurred at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, located 15 miles north of New York City. Michael, who had undergone surgery for a benign brain tumor, was under sedation at the time of the accident and passed away two days later.
The medical center’s president and CEO, Edward Stolzenberg, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and extended condolences to the family. While details about how the oxygen tank entered the room remain undisclosed, the medical center acknowledged full responsibility for the unfortunate event.
MRI scanners are essential medical devices that utilize magnetic forces and radio frequencies to create detailed images of internal body structures. Despite being generally safe, rare incidents like the one involving Michael Colombini highlight the importance of proper safety protocols during MRI procedures.
In a separate incident last year at Nassau Open MRI in Westbury, Long Island, 61-year-old Keith McAllister lost his life after being pulled into the MRI machine by his necklace. His wife, Adrienne Jones-McAllister, recounted the tragic event, revealing that her husband was wearing a heavy chain despite safety guidelines requiring the removal of all metal objects before entering the MRI room.
The devastating consequences of these accidents underscore the critical need for strict adherence to safety protocols during MRI scans to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.