MRI scans are strong diagnostics with high-definition images of what lies inside a body. Strong magnetic fields require precaution, as brought out by an instance where a young woman suffered very serious injuries due to an oversight in a metallic core within a silicone sex toy that she happened to have before the MRI scan. This makes a stark reminder about the potentially deadly consequences of missing metal objects when such procedures are being performed. In April 2023, a 23-year-old woman went into an MRI with a silicone plug containing a metal core that was not known.
She thought that the item is made entirely out of silicone according to the advertising. However, the strong magnetic field of the MRI machine interacted with the hidden metal, dragging the object through her body and causing excruciating pain. According to reports from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the scene was harrowing, with the woman screaming in agony and requiring immediate hospitalization. Despite pre-scan screenings, which are routine prior to a scan, the patient did not inform the facility that the object existed because he presumed it was purely non-metallic. This caused serious injuries that led to the patient's law suit against the manufacturer for deceitful misrepresentations of material content.
MRI machines employ magnets between 0.5 to 3 Tesla (T). This is thousands of times stronger than the Earth's magnetic field. The tremendous force causes ferromagnetic materials, like iron and nickel, to be magnetized quickly and become strongly attracted toward the magnet. Objects as small as hairpins or paper clips will accelerate at 40 miles per hour inside the magnetic field.
The force can lead to catastrophic injuries in items lodged within the body, such as metallic implants or foreign objects. Metallic cores within devices, like pacemakers or intrauterine devices, must be disclosed to radiologists to prevent such complications.
On these claims, Dr. Adam Taylor, a specialist in human anatomy, weighed his words in a international health website and added that the distance away and mass of this object would increase its velocity towards that of sound, "The acceleration would be phenomenal, but with a metallic core, it can't go anywhere near supersonic speeds. As for the size, the magnetic acceleration to the internal soft tissues would ensure that there could be severe intracranial trauma."
The injuries inflicted in this case likely involved damage to major blood vessels, nerves, or organs, highlighting the devastating impact of even minor oversight during an MRI scan.
This is not an isolated case. There are documented cases of metallic objects causing serious damage during MRI scans with a 65-year-old man with schizophrenia swallowed metal objects, including sockets and a hinge pin. The powerful magnetic field during an MRI scan caused the objects to rupture his stomach, resulting in serious injuries.
A toddler who ingested 11 small magnets perforated his bowel while undergoing a scan, making his case unique. In another deadly but extremely rare incident, there have been people who hide a firearm on themselves during MRI procedures. Magnetic attraction can trigger a discharge in a weapon and has led to some fatal injuries.
These cases emphasize the very strong need for adequate screening and patient education prior to an MRI.
Medical professionals have been trained to avoid risks. This is by properly screening a patient for metallic objects. In general, most pre-scan protocols include:
The case emphasizes the importance of product labeling by manufacturers, especially those products that are likely to unintentionally cause harm to health. The patient's assumption that her device was 100% silicone points to a larger problem in consumer markets with misinformation.
It also reminds the patients to report any possible dangers to the medical professionals, no matter how the objects look non-metallic. In sensitive cases, patients can request private discussions with healthcare providers to ensure safety without discomfort.
In the end, it is a joint effort from manufacturers, healthcare professionals, and patients that can prevent such tragedies. Manufacturers must ensure truthful marketing, while healthcare providers should educate patients about the dangers of metal objects in MRI settings. For patients, understanding the risks and actively participating in pre-scan disclosures can be lifesaving.
This young woman's experience is a sobering example of the unforeseen dangers posed by MRI machines when precautions are overlooked. It serves as a wake-up call to address gaps in patient awareness, medical protocols, and product transparency. By learning from this incident, the medical community and the public can work together to ensure MRI scans remain a safe and effective diagnostic tool.
Credits: AP
President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he is ready to make public the results of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan he underwent in October, a test that has prompted questions from political opponents and medical observers. The President also admitted he did not know which part of his body the imaging focused on.
While speaking to reporters aboard the flight back to Washington after a visit to his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump addressed the matter of the medical report. The scan was conducted during his second physical examination of the year at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He said he had no objection to sharing the records and told the press, “If you want to have it released, I’ll release it.”
President Donald Trump said that he is ready to make public the results of an MRI scan he underwent in October. The White House has repeatedly maintained that his overall health remains strong. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has said before that the 79-year-old president received “advanced imaging” as part of his “routine physical examination,” and that the full assessment showed he stayed in “exceptional physical health.”
Still, Trump’s own remarks brought an unexpected angle to the discussion. When asked what the scan was meant to check, he described the procedure as standard. He told reporters, “Getting an MRI is very standard. What, you think I shouldn’t have it? Other people get it. I had an MRI.” He added that the findings were “perfect,” and repeated his doctors’ comment that it was “the best result he has ever seen as a doctor.”
Although he spoke with confidence about the results, he could not explain what the scan was intended to examine. “I have no idea what they analyse, but whatever they analyse, they analysed it well and they said that I had as good a result as they’ve ever seen,” he said. He did make one point clear: “It wasn’t the brain because I took a cognitive test and I aced it.”
News of the MRI has revived debate over Trump’s willingness to share information about his health, as MRIs are not usually part of a routine annual evaluation. They are generally recommended when doctors need to study issues involving the brain, spine, or heart. The October appointment at Walter Reed followed another physical only a few months earlier and came at a time when there were reports of chronic venous insufficiency, adding to scrutiny of his health status.
Earlier this year, the White House confirmed that Trump has chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a vascular condition in which the veins in the legs have difficulty sending blood back to the heart. This problem can lead to swelling and discomfort.
On October 10, Trump returned to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Leavitt described the visit as a “routine annual check-up,” although it was his second such trip in six months. Dr. Sean Barbabella, the White House physician, did not offer details on the imaging or preventive screenings done during the appointment. He did say that the President’s laboratory reports were “exceptional,” and that his cardiac profile suggested a biological age nearly 14 years younger than his actual one.
On October 27, Trump disclosed that he had undergone an unspecified MRI during an earlier visit to Walter Reed. He said the scan produced “some of the best reports for the age” and “some of the best reports they’ve ever seen,” but the absence of further explanation has added to questions regarding his health.
Trump has also spoken before about taking the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a screening tool used to detect cognitive decline. He has often described it as a “very difficult IQ test.” It is not clear if another MoCA was completed during the October visit or if he was referring to the ones taken in April 2025 or January 2018.
Credits: iStock
Delhi pollution continues to worse, while yesterday their was a brief respite when the air quality index (AQI) levels were reported under the 'poor' category, and the AQI dropped to 269 at 7am on November 30. However, today, on December 1, the AQI at several stations crossed 300.
As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 325, ITO at 325, Rohini at 341, Bawana at 339, RK Puram at 336, Vivek Vihar at 321, Shadipur at 324, and Pusa at 322.
The toxic air in Delhi has spared no one, but the worst affected are children. On a recent weekday morning in Noida, a suburb near Delhi, BBC reported that at a crowded children’s clinic parents waited anxiously with little ones who were coughing, wheezing or struggling to breathe.
Most families said their children started falling sick in October, right when the capital’s air quality slipped into the hazardous range. This is a yearly pattern across northern India. A mix of slow winds, industrial fumes, vehicle emissions, dropping temperatures and the burning of crop residue creates a thick layer of pollution that settles over the region.
Since last month, Delhi’s Air Quality Index has mostly stayed between 300 and 400. These levels are over 20 times higher than what the World Health Organization (WHO) considers safe. Readings this high affect everyone, but young children and older adults are the most vulnerable.
Hospitals across the city have been overwhelmed with children suffering from pollution-related illnesses. Dr Shishir Bhatnagar, who heads the clinic in Noida, told BBC the number of cases has jumped sharply. He explained that young children are especially at risk because their immunity is still developing. He usually sees about 20 to 30 percent of cases linked to pollution, but that number doubles during the winter smog.
Although authorities often introduce emergency measures like halting construction or restricting vehicles, the situation has barely improved. Even an attempt at cloud seeding this year failed to bring relief, leaving millions worried about their families’ health.
For some parents, the fear is constant. BBC reports that Khushboo Bharti remembers rushing her one-year-old daughter to the hospital after a severe coughing fit left the baby vomiting and struggling to stay alert. The toddler later needed oxygen and was diagnosed with pneumonia. Other parents share similar worries, wondering whether the polluted air might cause lasting harm.
Research has repeatedly shown that prolonged exposure to polluted air can impair lung development, weaken immunity and even affect brain health. A recent study from the University of Cambridge linked certain pollutants to higher risks of dementia later in life.
While schools have postponed outdoor activities and moved younger classes online, these precautions mainly help families who have access to resources. For children living in crowded homes or near busy roads, the daily exposure is far worse. Doctors urge parents to keep children indoors when possible and use N95 masks, but many families find this unsustainable.
Parents say they feel helpless. They know children need space to play and fresh air to grow, yet every winter forces them to choose safety over normal childhood experiences.
As per CPCB standards, here's how you can read AQI:
Credits: iStock
Aids Day, a day that focuses on raising awareness on a disease that effects 40.8 million lives. In 2024 alone, 630,000 people died from AIDS-related deaths. What really is AIDS? It stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, which is an advanced stage of HIV, caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. It damages the immune system so that the body is less able to fight infections and diseases.
Thus, every year, on December 1, World AIDS Day is observed to increase awareness on the same, provide support to people living with it and remember those who have lost their lives to the illness.
This year, the theme for Aids Day is "Rethink, Rebuild, and Rise".
The International AIDS Society (IAS) wants to create a simple message through the theme that it is important for everyone to connect and work against HIV. This is an urge to everyone from local activists to scientists, to governments, and to the global organization.
The world’s fight against HIV is entering a critical phase. Hard-won progress is under threat as political tensions grow and funding becomes uncertain. This year’s theme, “Rethink. Rebuild. Rise.” is a powerful reminder that the global community must stay united, resilient and forward-thinking to meet the challenges ahead.
Rethink calls for stronger, long-term financial planning. It urges countries to invest more of their own resources instead of relying mainly on international support.
Rebuild highlights the need to strengthen health systems, protect scientific research and support civil society groups. It also emphasizes grounding every decision in solid evidence and pushing back against misinformation.
Rise encourages the world to move ahead with a fully funded, people-centered strategy that safeguards past achievements and brings us closer to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
The United Nations notes that in 2025, funding crisis is threatening the progress made in the prevention of the illness. This is why this day is a reminder for more people to connect, initiate community services that are vital for the marginalized population who are often deprioritized while the rise in punitive law criminalizes same sex relationships, gender identity, and drug use that amplifies the crisis, and makes HIV-AIDS services inaccessible.
The global response to AIDS has been shaken in recent months, and much more work is needed to meet the Sustainable Development Goal of ending AIDS by 2030. The crisis is far from over, and in today’s challenging environment, a fresh, transformative strategy is essential to reduce risks and stay on track.
The day was first observed in 1988 when the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations first launched it to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS, erase misconception, and build empathy for people living with AIDS. This day reminds people around the world that AIDS is not only a health problem but also a social and humanitarian issue for which everyone should work together.
The prevention of AIDS starts from the restriction and complete stoppage of HIV. While there is no vaccine or permanent cure yet, there are ways to prevent AIDS:
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