I hope you don't mind that I merged these 2 threads together so what happened to you is easier to follow.


I would contact the clinic or hospital that did the MRI to make a complaint.
Oh , I see you tried that already -
did you request to speak with /supervisor or management and file a written formal complaint {with copy for self}.

They need to find out if it was technician error or equipment error/malfunction.

You might need to search the facility / owners to go to the next level of complaint. If they don't follow up on your original complaint.

Better Business Bureau ? http://welcome.bbb.org/

here's a place where you can get an article about thermal MRI injuries.
http://www.clinicalradiologyonline.n...688-3/abstract

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...earch&aq=f&oq=

Hi, Yes, I have tried all of those things.
better business bureau is the first place that I have tried calling, they do not deal with medical facilities. They only handle things like if the facility charged you the wrong amount.

I have filed a complaint with the facility over the phone, and have send formal letter of suggestion by mail.

I did ask for explanation from the facility, and the lady in charge of the machine was very rude. She denied ever having any problem,and she laughed at me saying that I had an anxiety attack.


After calling some local politicians and having them urge the health department to call the facility...I received a letter from the president of the facility saying that they did not have malfunction with their machine.I guess that only leaves human error.

I do expect for them to say that they did have a problem as that is kind of shooting themselves in the foot.

I guess I will never know for sure whether what I experienced was contact burn or too much radio frequency.

There are some information on contact burn on the web, but that is not all that complete.

There are practically no information of effect of too much radio frequency on the body. FDA has limit for radio frequency.

It is normal for body to warm up a little bit by the radio frequency, too much heat that is not desirable or normal.

FYI, State of Pennsylvania is the only state that has mandatory reporting of all incidents under the ACT 13.

I think that the MRI that I had approx 2 years ago is one of the worst experiences that I have had in my life. The operators (radiographers?) must have their own special rare breed of rudeness and arrogance.

I arrived on time for my appointment, waited an hour and was told the machine had broken down and wouldn't be much longer. At this time I was trying to work 5 hours per day. I knew work would be piling up in my office.

Eventually I was called in - 2and half hours after appt time, I was not told how loud the noises would be other than the fact that I would hear some noise and was asked if I was claustrophobic and I said yes. I was told not to worry as they could see me and if I looked in the little mirror a little way along the tube I would be able to see them and they would stop if I looked like I wasn't coping with it. Plus they would be able to hear me.

I was told that I could have a sedative (in a back handed unwilling way) and I asked if they thought I would need one and at that time said that I didn't really want to have the MRI. Was told that most people don't need one.

Well as soon as I went in I was horrified. It was tiny and I knew that if I wanted to get out on my own I couldn't. The noise was like a toture like my brain was being drilled off and on. 45 minutes of it - with the odd pause in between.

When I was brought out I was told to go and get dressed. I didn't realise at the time that I had tears dripping off my chin and was incredibly pale and wanted to vomit, (until I saw myself in the changing room mirror) needless to say nobody asked me if I was ok, how was I getting home NOTHING.

Fortunately I had my mobile phone with me and rang my husband to come and get me - there was no way I could go back to work, let along drive home. As the insurer was who wanted me to have my MRI (not my GP) my husband told them a few facts etc but no response. After all the insurer is hoping I have "some other illness/disease" than TBI.

If this happens again I will definitely ask to be sedated. This was a private facility too - not part of the public health system.

Seems that non matter what part of the world we are in somethings just don't change.

Lynlee

Hi Lynlee, It is funny that you mention about tearing...my left eye was tearing like crazy also.It is not on the list of things to expect but then not all things get reported.

In the U.S. we have mandatory reporting of serious injury/death and machine malfunction. (From what I have read not all these get reported )
The so called other incidents are voluntary reporting...things like human error and near misses.Most MRI incidents are caused by human error and not by machine malfunction.
In my opinion all MRI incidents needs to be reported to have a clear picture of the number of incidents , and how to prevent catastrophic incidents.

Do you have any kind of reporting system where you are???
I understand most countries do not.