In Wake Of Deadly MRI Incident, Expert Advises Concerned Patients: 'Just Be Vigilant'

VALLEY STREAM, NY — A Long Island family is mourning after a loved one's shocking death was caused by an MRI machine last week — and the incident has raised concerns across the board.

Kevin McAllister, who police said was wearing a large metallic necklace, was pulled into the scanner at Nassau Open MRI in Westbury. His wife, Adrienne Jones-McAllister asked a worker to bring him in after her MRI, she told News 12.

A GoFundMe started by Jones-McAllister's daughter has topped $8,500 in donations.

While such tragedies are rare, Sean Maraj, director of imaging services at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream Hospital, reflected: "Everyone's on heightened awareness and caution."

But there's largely no reason to fear, Maraj said, adding that there are extensive safety protocols in place before having an MRI, which stands for magnetic resonance imaging.

"There are just so many regulatory safeguards, whether it's through policy, procedure [or] laws that really try to prevent this from occurring," Maraj told Patch.

McAllister, 61, of Hempstead died after suffering multiple heart attacks from being yanked into the machine, his wife told News 12.

"It seems like a fluke," Maraj added. "The visitor should have never gotten back there. [He] should have never been able to go into the room."

As for MRI patients, Maraj said, screenings are done before the scan can get scheduled. Locker rooms are provided for jewelry placement.

"There are several layers that a patient would go through just to even get into the magnet area," he said.

Typically, patients would also go through a magnetic detector, fill out forms and consult directly with doctors and technicians, Maraj said.

The MRI machine is immensely powerful, but the man's 20-pound chain proved to be a lethal combination.

"I think the weight of the chain played a role. If it was something lighter, I think that he could have probably given it a little bit of a fight back," Maraj said.

Going forward, patients need not panic, he added.

"[They] should not have concerns," he said. "Just be vigilant."