Woman shot during MRI

During a routine medical exam, a woman experienced an unexpected injury when her own gun discharged, shooting her in the right buttock. The incident, documented in an adverse event report submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), took place during a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. The report, filed by the woman’s healthcare provider in July and recently brought to public attention, describes the event as occurring on June 28.

The 57-year-old woman, who remains unnamed, entered the MRI room with a concealed handgun containing ferrous (iron-containing) components. As she approached the MRI machine, the gun was attracted to the powerful magnet inside, causing it to discharge a single round into and through her right buttock. Fortunately, the injury was relatively minor, with the bullet causing small and superficial wounds.

Patients undergoing MRI exams are typically advised to avoid bringing any potentially magnetic objects, including metal, into the examination room. The powerful magnet in an MRI machine is always active. Despite receiving a standard screening for magnetic objects and explicitly denying the presence of firearms when questioned, the woman had the gun discharged.

It’s unclear whether the woman had a permit for the firearm. The incident serves as a reminder that various objects, not just firearms, can pose risks in proximity to an MRI machine. Other incidents have involved injuries and fatalities caused by wheelchairs, oxygen tanks, and metallic objects like butt plugs. While firearms pose a less common threat in MRI environments, previous cases highlight the importance of following safety guidelines and disclosure protocols. The circumstances surrounding the incident underscore the need for heightened awareness and adherence to safety protocols during medical procedures involving magnetic resonance imaging.

_{Repurposed article originally published in Gizmodo}