EU legislation threatens use of MRI scanners
22 December 2008
Urgent action and public pressure is still required to stop the
European Union adopting legislation which will restrict the use of
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners throughout Europe, according
to the UK's Institute of Physics.
Earlier this year, thanks to a successful campaigning effort by the
UK’s MRI community, including the British Institute of Radiology and the
Royal College of Radiologists, a last minute postponement to the
Physical Agents (EMF) Directive was introduced which delayed its
implementation that would have had a serious impact on current and
emerging MRI techniques.
The Institute of Physics (IOP) has launched a new report, MRI and the
Physical Agents (EMF) Directive, which intends to spur informed debate
and encourage European politicians to consider more recent research
which shows how potentially harmful the heavy-handed European directive
is.
Although the implementation of the directive has been postponed until
April 2012, its content remains unchanged and, unless there is a further
amendment, the exposure limit for low-frequency magnetic fields will
still severely impair use of MRI scanners in medical practice and
research.
This new report suggests that the logic behind the limit on
low-frequency magnetic fields is based on out-of-date and unreplicated
research and, if implemented, will result in increased use of X-rays as
a diagnostic tool.
Dr Stephen Keevil, author of the IOP’s report from Kings’ College,
London, writes, “It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that a range of
current and emerging MRI procedures would be rendered illegal by the
directive. Some of these techniques simply cannot be performed in other
ways, and in other cases the only possible option would expose both the
patient and workers to ionising radiation.”
The report summarises a series of possible outcomes proposed by the
European Commission and suggests that a solution specific to MRI would
be more suitable than a one-size-fits-all mandatory directive as it
would be easier to modify when new research about exposure levels is
undertaken and, unlike the directive in its current form, could
specifically address any health concerns surrounding MRI.
There are 500 MRI scanners situated in hospitals around the UK,
benefitting more than one million patients every year. Three of the most
common uses for MRI scanners in the UK are diagnosing and monitoring the
success of cancer treatment and assessing the damage caused by a stroke
or heart attack. MRI also plays a vital role in clinical research of
diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
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