A tragic incident occurred in Andhra Pradesh in early February, where a woman died during an MRI scan in the 60s. The family has accused the hospital officials of negligence.
According to a report made by the New Indian Express, Nalguchu Ram Tulsama died during a MRI scan at a local clinical center. She was earlier passing through dialysis treatment and also had a pacemaker.
What happened?
The media said, “Her husband, Koteshwar Rao alleged that the employees of the Diagnostic Center failed to identify their wife’s pacemaker and dialysis plug, claiming that she died during the procedure.”
She said that her wife was fine when she entered the scan center. While living inside the MRI machine, they were asked to hold their legs to stop the movement. Tulsama, passing through a regular scan, showed signs of discomfort. Worried, he contacted the technician for immediate assistance. However, the technician allegedly remained unanswered, only instructed him to ask him not to move. Minutes passed, and no one noticed his crisis. It was only later, after the scan was completed, that the shocking truth emerged -died during the Tulsama process.
Precautions to take during MRI scan
An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan is a safe and non-invasive process, but some precautions should be taken to ensure the patient’s safety and accurate results.
Before scan patients are advised to remove jewelry, watches, belts and any metal objects, as strong magnetic fields can interfere with them. Individuals with pacemaker, coclear transplant, artificial joints or metal plates should inform the doctor, as they can pose risk. Pregnant women, people with kidney disease (if contrast dye is used), or people with clustophobia should inform the radiologist.
During the scan, patients are advised to stay still because the movement can blur images, so patients should still lie and follow the instructions of breathing if given. If you feel discomfort or anxiety, the patients can press the emergency button to alert the technician. If contrast dye is used, be aware of potential allergic reactions and reports any discomfort immediately.
