Profession
MRI-related burns, deaths prompt call for better safety measures
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted March 10, 2008
The Joint Commission in February issued a sentinel event alert urging hospitals and ambulatory care centers to step up efforts to prevent injuries in magnetic-resonance imaging suites.
More than 400 MRI-related adverse events, including nine deaths, were reported to the Food and Drug Administration over a 10-year-period, according to a 2005 study. More than 70% of the reported events involved patients being burned. Another 10% were due to metal objects such as wheelchairs and oxygen canisters being sucked into MRI scanners. Other events included implant disturbances and fires.
The commission drew on recommendations from the American College of Radiology and ECRI Institute in developing safety suggestions.
These recommendations include:
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/03/10/prbf0310.htm.
