Man sucked into MRI machine

Aman got sucked into an MRI machine and died at Mumbai’s civicrun Nair Hospital on Saturday.

In a case of alleged medical negligence, the incident occurred minutes after he walked into the room carrying an oxygen cylinder, even though metal objects are not allowed inside MRI- testing rooms because of the magnetic field it creates when operational. The family alleged that the ward boy attached to the MRI section had allegedly asked them to carry the oxygen cylinder inside, assuring that it was safe as the machine was switched off, only it wasn’t.

Rajesh Shyamji Maru, 32, died as he had inhaled excess oxygen after the cylinder’s knob accidentally opened even as his body got sucked inside the MRI machine. Maru was attending to an elderly relative who had come for a scan.

The Agripada police has filed a case under section 304- A ( causing death by negligence) of the IPC and arrested three hospital staff members, including the ward boy. DCP Virendra Mishra of Zone 3 said, “An FIR was registered against the hospital and they have arrested the doctor, Saurabh Lanjeka, 24, ward boy Vitthal Chavan, 35, and ward attendant Sunita Surve under Section 304A ( causing death by negligence) of the IPC.”

The hospital authorities have also handed over the CCTV footage to the police.

When asked about alleged negligence on the part of the hospital’s staff, that resulted in the oxygen cylinder being allowed inside the MRI room, Nair Hospital Dean Dr Ramesh Bharmal said, “There was no place meant for the oxygen cylinder. Accidentally, the oxygen cylinder also went inside along with the person and he died.”

Maru was a resident of Lalbaug and the sole bread earner of his family. He had gone to the hospital to visit his sister’s mother- inlaw. Maru was helping her get inside the MRI room, when a ward boy asked him to take the oxygen cylinder inside.