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.

How Metal Objects Interact with MRI Fields?

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.

Preventing MRI-Related Incidents

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:

• Patients are interrogated about implants, recent surgery or exposures at work related to metals.
• Radiologists sometimes use handheld metal detectors to search for hidden items.
• People who work with metal, like welders or machinists, will need additional testing to detect microscopic metal fragments within soft tissues or eyes.

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.

With the patent on semaglutide expiring today in India, NATCO Pharma has become the first drugmaker to launch the generic version of the weight-loss drug in the country.

NATCO Pharma’s generic semaglutide injection prices start at INR 1,290 per month.

“NATCO is the first company to offer generic semaglutide in multi-dose vials with customized syringes… It is the most affordable GLP-1 currently in the Indian market as it is approximately 70 percent cheaper in cost than the pen device and 90 percent cheaper than the price of the innovator’s brand,” the Hyderabad-based company said, in a statement.

The company had received approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) in February 2026 to manufacture and market the drug, after a clinical comparison study.

Semaglutide works by targeting key areas of the brain involved in appetite regulation and food intake. It reduces hunger, improves satiety, and cuts down food cravings, eventually inducing weight loss.

It also improves insulin resistance and has a beneficial effect on the reduction of cardiometabolic events and risk factors.

NATCO's Semaglutide Drugs

NATCO's semaglutide drugs will be sold under brand names SEMANAT and SEMAFULL in multi-dose vial formats. It will be priced:

• INR 1,290 per month for the 2 mg/1.5 ml and 4 mg/3 ml variants,
• INR 1,750 for the 8 mg/3 ml dose.

• INR 4,000 for 2 mg/1.5ml,
• INR 4,200 for 4 mg/3 ml,
• INR 4,500 per month for 8 mg/3 ml.

In comparison, Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy in pen devices cost INR 8,800 and INR 10,850, respectively, per month for the starting doses.

NATCO has also signed a distribution partnership with Eris Lifesciences to co-market its therapy in India.

Other Generic Versions

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, and Zydus Lifesciences are also expected to introduce their versions of semaglutide on Saturday.

Others in the pipeline include Alkem Laboratories, Torrent Pharmaceuticals, and MSN Laboratories.

With intense competition, analysts believe around 50 branded semaglutide generics will enter the Indian market within months, BBC reported.

Calling it a potential "magic-pill moment" for India, investment bank Jefferies predicted that the semaglutide market in the country could reach $1bn domestically.

Also read: CDSCO threatens action against pharma companies for promoting GLP-1 weight-loss drugs

End Of Novo Nordisk’s Patents

In January this year, Canada became the first country to lose patent protection for semaglutide. However, the country's health regulator hasn’t approved any generics so far.

Novo Nordisk is expected to lose the patent in 10 more countries, including Brazil, China, South Africa, Turkey, and Canada, by the end of 2026.

In view of losing patent, Novo Nordisk recently cut prices for Wegovy in India. The company also launched its blockbuster brand Ozempic in December.

Once affecting people who smoked tobacco, lung cancer in India is today more common among people who never smoked. The major reason: exposure to poor air, almost year-round.

Although air pollution has emerged as an important risk for lung cancer, the evidence on this issue from India is limited. To explore more on this, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, today announced undertaking a major study.

The study, dubbed ‘AIRCARE (Air Pollution and Cancer Research Ecosystem): Center for Advanced Research on Environmental Health and Lung Cancer Risk’, will examine the connection between the fine particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) and the risk of lung cancer in the country.

PM2.5 particles, with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, are approximately 30 times smaller than a human hair. It is a significant yet often unseen threat to air quality.

“India is home to some of the most polluted cities in the world, and there is an urgent need to scientifically look at the effects of pollution on people’s health. Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers among males in India, and there is a high number of non-smoking lung cancers among females and young adults,” said Dr. Abhishek Shankar, Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology at AIIMS, who will lead the study, while addressing the media.

“It is deeply concerning that lung cancer, once assumed to be a disease mostly associated with people who smoke tobacco, is now seeing a rapid increase in incidence amongst people who do not smoke,” he added.

The expert urged the "need to implement policy and management strategies to tackle this disease and mitigate further loss of life”.

The AIRCARE Study

It will be the first-of-its-kind scientific study in India to evaluate the effects of exposure to air pollution.

About 1,615 lung cancer cases with 1,615 controls from their family members will be added to the study.

The study will employ both a cohort and case-control design to track the effects of chronic PM 2.5 exposure on lung cancer incidence across various demographics and socio-economic groups.

It will also attempt to isolate an Indian population-specific genetic imprint.

Based on the findings, the researchers aim to develop a risk- based screening model that will include both clinical and molecular components specific to the Indian population and exposure levels.

It will also identify the susceptible population among the cohort who are more at risk of developing lung cancer.

Lung Cancer And Air Pollution Risks In India

Data from the National Cancer Registry shows that lung cancer affects about 72,000 people and claims 66,000 lives every year in India -- making it one of the leading causes of cancer mortality in the country.

From a smoker’s illness, lung cancer has now emerged as a major concern due to poor air quality. Several doctors across Delhi and Maharashtra have n noted a significant increase in pulmonary cancer due to air pollution.

A 2025 study at a government hospital in North India found that 52 percent of lung cancer cases were among non-smokers.

The Indian government today constituted the National Dental Commission (NDC), in a major reform to improve the quality of dental education in the country and align it with global standards, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, on the occasion of World Oral Health Day.

The government also announced three autonomous boards under the NDC and repealed the erstwhile Dental Council of India (DCI). The developments were notified on March 19, making the new framework operational from the same date, the Ministry said in a statement.

The NDC aims to introduce essential and long-overdue regulatory reforms in dental education and enhance access to affordable oral healthcare across the country.

The three autonomous bodies aim to support the functioning of the Commission. These are:

• Undergraduate and Postgraduate Dental Education Board -- to oversee dental education
• Dental Assessment and Rating Board -- to regulate accreditation and institutional assessment
• Ethics and Dental Registration Board -- to govern professional conduct and registration of dentists

The key functions of the National Dental Commission includes:

• Framing regulations to implement the provisions of the Act
• Conducting rating and assessment of dental institutions
• Evaluating human resources and promoting dental research
• Framing guidelines for fee regulation in private dental colleges
• Establishing standards for community dental care, education, research, and professional ethics

World Oral Health Day

Every year on March 20, World Oral Health Day is observed to empower people with the knowledge, tools and confidence to secure good oral health.

The 2026 theme is “A Happy Mouth is a Happy Life” raises awareness about the importance of caring for your mouth at every stage of life - from birth through later years.

"Healthy Mouth, Healthy Nation. This World Oral Health Day, let’s raise awareness and take action, practice proper brushing, reduce sugar intake, and prioritize regular dental check-ups. Your smile deserves daily care," the Ministry of Health shared in a post on social media platform X.

Also read: World Oral Health Day: Your Mouth May Signal Disease Before You Even Know, According To Doctor

"A healthy mouth is essential for a healthy body. This World Oral Health Day, let’s focus on building better habits for ourselves and our families," said Union Health Minister JP Nadda.

He called for building up "simple steps like proper brushing, limiting sugary foods, and regular dental check-ups" to maintain good oral health.

"Good oral care not only keeps our smile bright but also supports overall well-being. Let’s use this occasion to raise awareness and commit to maintaining good oral hygiene every day," he added.