Family holds MRI technician responsible for deadly accident with metal chain

Tragic MRI Incident on Long Island

The family of a man from Long Island who sadly lost his life in an MRI-related accident alleges that negligence played a role in his death. This incident took place on Wednesday afternoon at Nassau Open MRI, located in Westbury. The victim, 61-year-old Keith McAllister, was reportedly trapped for nearly an hour before being drawn into the machine due to its strong magnetic pull.

McAllister was with his wife, Adrian Jones McAllister, during the procedure. According to their daughter, Samantha Bodden, the technician left the room to assist her wife but did not warn her about the risks of being near the MRI machine with metal objects.

Bodden addressed media reports that claimed McAllister should not have been in the room, asserting that the technician had invited him in. In a GoFundMe post aimed at raising money for funeral costs, Bodden mentioned that a chain he was wearing was immediately pulled towards the magnetic field.

She explained that both her mother and the technician attempted to free McAllister before they ultimately called the police for assistance. “My mother and technology tried to release him for a few minutes before the police were called,” Bodden wrote, noting he was stuck for almost an hour.

Jones McAllister shared her last moments with her husband in a heartfelt interview, expressing her disbelief at the situation. “I said, ‘Are you going to turn off the machine, call 9-1-1, do something?'” She is still grappling with the reality of the incident.

Bodden noted that her father passed away on July 17 after suffering several heart attacks as a result of the tragic event. The Nassau County Police Department is currently investigating the matter.

Nassau Open MRI declined to comment following the incident. It’s important to note that MRI machines generate a strong magnetic field that can pose serious risks when metal objects are nearby.

The company’s website advises patients to remove metallic items before undergoing an MRI, which includes things like hearing aids and jewelry. The FDA also contributes to the conversation by stating that while strong magnetic fields pose risks, “adverse events” related to MRI scans are quite rare.

A medical emergency physician from Charleston, South Carolina, emphasized that establishing stringent MRI protocols could help prevent such accidents in the future.