Mumbai MRI death: Metal detector outside hospital's scan room was not functional

Rajesh Maru was carrying a metal cylinder when he got sucked into the MRI machine at Nair hospitalThe negligence of Nair hospital knows no bounds It wasnt just the staff that failed to save Rajesh Maru from getting sucked into the MRI machine it has been revealed now that there was a metal detector outside the MRI room but it failed to sound an alarm when Maru walked through it with an oxygen cylinder in his hands BMCs preliminary investigation has revealed that not just Nair but most civic hospitals dont have functioning metal detectorsThe BMC is mulling over adopting a multilevel security system to keep metal objects from entering MRI centres Representation picThinkstockAs per the guidelines laid down by the central government all MRI centres should be secured with a metal detector outside to prevent patients or visitors from entering the room with any metal objects This rule is in place for good reason as was tragically demonstrated on January 27 when Rajesh Maru got pulled into the MRI machine at Nair hospital along with the liquid oxygen cylinder he was carryingAlso read Mumbai MRI death Philips team to inspect machine in Nair HospitalNot having a working metal detector was a major security lapse at Nair hospitals radiology department This is a violation of government rules but most BMCrun hospitals dont follow the norm anyway said a senior health official Most BMC hospitals face the same issue some dont even have a metal detector while others have dysfunctional sensors the official added Dr Ramesh Bharmal dean of Nair hospital remained unavailable for commentWhile the authorities now have to determine who is responsible for this negligence that led to Marus death they are also formulating a Standard Operating Procedure SOP to improve safety at all MRI centres Under this SOP civic officials are now considering adopting a multilevel metal detection process across all MRI centresTata sets an exampleThe BMC would do well to follow the example of the Tata Memorialrun Advance Centre for Treatment Research amp Education in Cancer ACTREC in Kharghar which has a threelevel process for screening metal objects before entering the MRI room Ironically ACTREC learnt its lesson the hard way too after a technician got pinned to the MRI scanner in 2014 Following the incident the hospital implemented a threedoor security systemThe first level is a doorway with a metal detector to pick up on any metal items that patients or staffers might be carrying In case any metal is detected the siren starts blaring and the patients are searched thoroughly The second door is secured with a biometric lock that can only be opened by registered MRI technicians The third door is finally opened by an employee from inside after the patient has cleared the first two levelsAfter the incident we introduced the threelevel metal detection process This helps us to be extra careful in preventing such incidents from repeating said HKV Narayan administrative head of the hospital He added The Parel hospital too has a twolevel system with a guard who checks the patients along with a metal detectorNew MRI centresThe BMCs new SOP will also focus on distributing the patient burden better by opening more MRI centres Currently only four major hospitals ndash Cooper Nair Sion and KEM ndash and two tertiary hospitals ndash Shatabdi hospitals in Kandivli and Govandi ndash have MRI facilities The civic body intends to introduce MRI machines at Rajawadi hospital and another centreCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news current affairs from Mumbai local news crime news and breaking headlines hereDownload the new midday Android and iOS apps to get updates on all the latest and trending stories on the go