Why it’s Vital that You Know the Safety Protocol for MRI

Any diagnostic imaging procedure has its share of risks. Some of the major risks involve side effects from over exposure to radiation. While it’s clear that radiation exposure will not cause every cancer, there is a possibility that it may. What about greater types of risks? Is there a risk when going through an MRI?

There are some risks to the MRI and those risks are possible fatalities due to the fact that certain safety precautions are not being taken. Let’s examine some outlined protocols for MRI safety:

• People not qualified need to stay outside the room at all times.
• Unnecessary equipment should not be present during procedures.
• All equipment should be certified and up to date.
• Facilities need to be inspected and properly certified.

These outlined protocols need to be observed along with other far more detailed protocols that pertain to individuals. Below are a few protocols on electronic equipment from the FDA:

For the purpose of this part, an electronic product shall be considered to have a defect which relates to the safety of use by reason of the emission of electronic product radiation if:

• (a) It is a product which does not utilize the emission of electronic product radiation in order to accomplish its purpose, and from which such emissions are unintended, and as a result of its design, production or assembly;
• (1) It emits electronic product radiation which creates a risk of injury, including genetic injury, to any person, or
• (2) It fails to conform to its design specifications relating to electronic radiation emissions; or

• (b) It is a product which utilizes electronic product radiation to accomplish its primary purpose and from which such emissions are intended, and as a result of its design, production or assembly it;
• (1) Fails to conform to its design specifications relating to the emission of electronic product radiation; or
• (2) Without regard to the design specifications of the product, emits electronic product radiation unnecessary to the accomplishment of its primary purpose which creates a risk of injury, including genetic injury to any person; or
• (3) Fails to accomplish the intended purpose.

These protocols need to be observed with greater scrutiny when you consider that out of some 7600 fatalities only 2% have been reported on the FDA site. The problem is widespread and it put the imaging community under a microscope. It’s important that a patient be as educated as all professionals simply because if a patient notices some obvious infraction they are in time to decline a procedure. While this is something that puts some added stress on the patient, it does help the patient understand how to better protect themselves.

If you have any questions about diagnostic imaging procedures please feel free to give us a call. Our team of imaging professionals here at Clermont Radiology looks forward to answering all your questions and aiding you in your diagnostic imaging needs. We pride ourselves in the having only the highest safety and satisfaction standards for our patients.

Charla Hurst General
Operations Manager

Charla@ClermontRadiology.com  
352-241-6100 

www.ClermontRadiology.com  

References: http://www.dotmed.com/news/story/21955?p_begin=2

http://www.cognitiveneuro.org/SafetyReadings/MCW-MRISafetyPolicies.pdf

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=1003.2