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.

A Florida man has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, alleging that medical advice provided by ChatGPT nearly cost him his life after the chatbot repeatedly discouraged him from seeking medical care.

Scott Winters, a former pastor, filed the lawsuit in San Francisco County Superior Court, claiming ChatGPT repeatedly advised him against seeking medical help as he experienced symptoms leading up to a near-fatal pulmonary embolism—a sudden and dangerous blockage in an artery in the lungs.

"ChatGPT-4o frequently opined on and evaluated Scott's physical condition, conveying the authority and confidence of a medical professional rendering a clinical assessment and treatment recommendation, despite not having the qualifications to do so," the lawsuit states.

Winters' lawyers further allege that the platform "repeatedly and insistently misdiagnosed" him while drawing on previous discussions about religion to reassure him that he would recover.

What Does The Lawsuit Allege?

Also read: AI Cannot Replace Doctors, It Can Only Complement, Says Dr Santosh Sivaranjani

According to the lawsuit, Winters became a regular ChatGPT user and gradually came to rely on the chatbot for medical advice, resisting repeated efforts by family members and friends to persuade him to visit a hospital.

Weeks before becoming critically ill, he consulted ChatGPT about recurring dizzy spells and "bouts of blood pressure instability."

The lawsuit claims that in one response, ChatGPT advised Winters to remain in the recliner chair to which he had become "mainly confined to" because of his worsening health.

Court documents state that Winters later suffered a "massive pulmonary embolism due to multiple blood clots in both of his lungs that brought him to the brink of death, one that his doctors stated was likely brought on because of his immobility."

Winters is seeking financial damages and is asking the court to require OpenAI to implement "reasonable safeguards that protect other users from harm."

ChatGPT Not Intended For Medical Care

Read More: Women Turning to AI for Health Detection: Helpful Tool or Risky Trend?

Earlier this year, OpenAI launched a new ChatGPT Health feature in the US that can analyze users' medical records to provide more personalised responses, although campaigners have raised privacy concerns.

At the time, OpenAI said more than 230 million people ask ChatGPT questions about their health and wellbeing every week. In a blog post, the company said ChatGPT Health offers "enhanced privacy to protect sensitive data."

"ChatGPT is not a doctor and should never be used as a substitute for medical care, diagnosis or treatment," OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri told CBS News, reacting to allegations.

He added: "AI can make that experience better by helping them find clearer answers, organize their questions and prepare for conversations with medical professionals."

ChatGPT's terms of use state that users should not treat the chatbot as a "sole source of truth," particularly for decisions that could "have a legal or material impact on that person, such as making credit, educational, employment, housing, insurance, legal, medical, or other important decisions about them."

Other Health-Related Lawsuits

This is not the first lawsuit OpenAI has faced over users' health and safety.

In May, a Texas couple whose son died from an overdose after seeking information about drugs from ChatGPT sued OpenAI, alleging he would still be alive if the company had not "bypassed safety guards."

Sri Lanka is facing its worst dengue outbreak in over a decade, with 76,044 cases and 56 deaths reported so far in 2026, according to the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU).

With the onset of the monsoon season, infections have surged sharply. While 8,590 cases were reported in May, the number more than doubled to 21,537 in June. In the first 19 days of July alone, 20,666 cases were recorded, including 2,895 new infections on July 21, the NDCU said.

The country has reported 56 dengue-related deaths this year, with a case fatality rate of 0.07%. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), global dengue cases have risen from around 500,000 in 2000 to 14.4 million in 2024.

Western Province Worst Hit

Sri Lanka's Western Province remains the hardest-hit region, accounting for more than half of all infections nationwide. Health officials have also identified 162 high-risk areas for dengue transmission, Asia News reported.

According to the NDCU, the Ministry of Health is currently conducting surveillance programmes across 63 high-risk divisions. The country is also deploying military drones to identify stagnant water on rooftops and other mosquito breeding sites.

Public Health System Under Pressure

According to Reuters, Sri Lanka's public health services and hospitals are battling the country's worst dengue outbreak in nearly a decade, with the armed forces assisting efforts to contain the spread.

The response includes air force drones tracking rooftop pools of stagnant water after monsoon rains, while military and police personnel are helping inspect homes, construction sites and schools to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds.

Public health workers were "stretched to their limit," said Kapila Kannangara, Acting Director General of the National Dengue Control Unit.

"The number of patients is high, and the severity of the cases is high," he said, adding that about 75% of cases are linked to the more virulent DENV-2 strain, which is spreading rapidly.

Health officials expect infections to decline as monsoon rains weaken in August but warn that cases could rise again from November with the arrival of the island's second annual monsoon season.

What Is Dengue?

Dengue is a viral infection transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes and is common in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.

Most infections cause high fever and flu-like illness. However, some cases can progress to severe dengue (dengue hemorrhagic fever), which may lead to severe bleeding, shock and death.

Dengue is the most widespread viral disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. More than 3.9 billion people across over 132 countries are at risk, with an estimated 96 million symptomatic cases and around 40,000 deaths reported each year globally.

Symptoms of Dengue Fever

Symptoms usually appear 4–10 days after the bite of an infected mosquito and may include:

• High fever
• Severe headache
• Pain behind the eyes
• Joint and muscle pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fatigue
• Skin rash appearing a few days after fever begins

In severe cases, dengue can cause excessive bleeding, a sudden drop in blood pressure and organ complications.

How to Prevent Dengue

Preventing dengue focuses on avoiding mosquito bites and eliminating breeding sites. Measures include:

• Using insect repellents containing DEET
• Wearing long-sleeved clothing, especially during dawn and dusk
• Installing screens on windows and doors
• Sleeping under mosquito nets in endemic areas
• Removing stagnant water from flower pots, gutters and containers
• Using mosquito traps or insecticide-treated materials in mosquito-prone areas

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have issued travel health advisories warning travelers about the growing risks of mosquito-borne diseases, including chikungunya and yellow fever.

The CDC has issued a Level 2 Travel Health Notice for Costa Rica following a chikungunya outbreak, while UK health authorities have alerted travelers about rising imported chikungunya cases and yellow fever activity across multiple countries.

CDC Issues Level 2 Travel Health Notice

The CDC warned American travelers to "practice enhanced precautions" after Costa Rica reported a chikungunya outbreak.

On July 1, Costa Rica's Ministry of Health declared an active outbreak in the oceanside community of Playa Langosta in the western province of Guanacaste..

An epidemiological survey identified 45 suspected cases, of which four were laboratory confirmed, while 17 others were considered likely linked to the outbreak.

According to the US Embassy in Costa Rica, the cases include both Costa Rican nationals and foreign visitors. The embassy said local transmission means the virus is now circulating among the local mosquito population rather than being limited to infected travelers.

Costa Rica has reported 16 total cases this year, with the previous reported case dating back to 2017.

UKHSA Warns Over Rising Chikungunya Cases

The UK Health Security Agency issued a warning for holidaymakers travelling to affected regions as imported chikungunya cases continue to rise.

"Are you, or someone you know, heading off on a tropical trip? It's worth being aware of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne virus that can cause severe joint pain. Check out our blog post to learn how to stay protected," the UKHSA said in a post on X.

UKHSA reported 112 confirmed and probable chikungunya cases among travelers returning to England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2024—almost one and a half times the number reported in 2023.

"Travel to India accounted for the majority of these cases, followed by travel to Pakistan and Brazil – all popular destinations for people travelling from the UK," the agency added.

Yellow Fever Alert Issued for Multiple Countries

The UK government-backed Travel Health Pro has also warned travelers about increasing yellow fever activity.

Since the beginning of 2026, 95 confirmed yellow fever cases have been reported globally.

Confirmed cases have been reported in:

• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Colombia
• Ecuador
• Peru
• Venezuela
• Burkina Faso
• Central African Republic
• Cameroon

What Is Chikungunya?

Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral disease transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, the same mosquitoes that spread dengue fever.

Symptoms usually appear three to seven days after an infected mosquito bite and include:

• Sudden fever
• Severe joint pain
• Headache
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Rash (in about half of cases)

Unlike dengue, chikungunya can leave lingering effects, with joint pain and fatigue lasting for weeks, months or even years.

People at higher risk of severe illness include:

• Newborns
• Older adults
• People with hypertension
• People with diabetes
• People with heart disease

The mosquitoes responsible for spreading chikungunya commonly breed in stagnant water found in overhead tanks, coolers and unused containers.

What Is Yellow Fever?

Yellow fever is a viral disease transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes. The infection can be severe and may become fatal in some cases if not managed appropriately. Vaccination is recommended before travelling to certain affected regions.

Initial Symptoms

• Fever
• Chills
• Severe headache
• Back pain
• General body aches
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fatigue
• Weakness

Severe Symptoms

• High fever
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
• Bleeding
• Shock
• Organ failure