MRI machine mishap, Tata hospital launches probe

The Tata Hospital has set a six-member inquiry committee after two of its employee at the Tata Memorial-run Advance Centre or Treatment Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) hospital, Navi Mumbai, got stuck to a an MRI machine for four hours. One man suffered serious injuries in the November 8 incident.

According to a press release by the hospital management, a gas cylinder kept outside the Navi Mumbai hospital's MRI room got pulled due to the strong magnetic field of the machine, trapping two staffers against the scanner. While the authorities tried to switch on the emergency button to demagnetise the field, doctors said that the button was not functional and led to delay in rescuing the stuck employees.

The mishap took place at around 7 pm when a male patient was wheeled in for a routine MRI. Deputy director, ACTREC, Dr Sudeep Gupta, said, "The internal inquiry team will look into all aspects of the incident and suggest remedial measures. We are taking up the issue of the equipment malfunction with GE in an appropriate manner."

Meanwhile, both the employees are presently in Bombay hospital and said to be stable. "One of them has suffered a fracture in elbow and have been operated. The other suffered muscular injury to the lower limbs and will take a few weeks to recover. He is stable," said Dr Gupta.