Nurse trapped and injured in MRI machine mishap

May 2024 · 2 minute read


In an unfortunate incident at a medical center in California, a nurse was pinned between an MRI machine and a bed, resulting in “crushing injuries” that required surgery. The mishap occurred when the MRI machine’s magnetic force unexpectedly pulled a hospital bed towards it. The nurse, Ainah Cervantes, was attending to a patient on the bed at the time of the accident at a medical center in Redwood City operated by California-based Kaiser Permanente.

The patient on the bed fell but was uninjured, while Cervantes found herself trapped between the front of the tube-shaped machine and the bed.


MRI machine traps and crushes nurse in freak accident

Cervantes recounted the terrifying experience to investigators, stating, “I was getting pushed by the bed. Basically, I was running backwards. If I didn’t run, the bed would smash me underneath.”

Cervantes suffered severe lacerations that required surgery, including the removal of two embedded screws, according to documents obtained by the station.

An investigation into the incident was completed several months after it occurred, and it revealed that the medical center failed to provide radiologic services in a safe manner, as per the California Department of Public Health.

Several oversights in the handling of the MRI machine were identified, including the absence of MRI personnel inside the room during the incident. Additionally, no one, including the patient, underwent screening, and the door to the room was left open while the safety alarm system failed to sound.

The incident also violated several of Kaiser’s MRI safety policies, as indicated in the report. It was revealed that some employees had not received the necessary safety training, and the hospital had failed to annually test the door alarm, as recommended.

“The many safety failures … created a culture of unsafe practices,” stated the investigation by the California Department of Public Health.

Sheila Gilson, senior vice president for Kaiser Permanente San Mateo, reassured that the teams responded promptly and the individuals involved received the required care and support. She emphasized the significance of understanding the cause of the accident and implementing preventive measures to avoid future occurrences.

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