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.
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US President Donald Trump’s former daughter-in-law Vanessa Trump recently revealed that she is now cancer-free.
The former wife of Donald Trump Jr also shared the early signs of the disease she experienced before getting diagnosed. The 48-year-old is now undergoing surgery and radiation.
In an interview with her daughter, Kai Trump and radiologist Dr Nicole Saphier for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Vanessa said that she was unusually exhausted for months before getting diagnosed in April 2026. She said that even normal activities in her routine would leave her spent.
“I would love to go and get my Starbucks, and then two hours later, I would feel exhausted,” she said.
Vanessa also said she experienced constant arm pain for several months before noticing something in her left breast
She was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, a common form of breast cancer in which cancer cells surface in the milk ducts and spread into breast tissue.
Vanessa underwent a lumpectomy to remove the tumour, followed by three courses of radiation treatment. In an update shared in October, she said a recent breast MRI came back clear. “I'm finally cancer-free,” she said.
Vanessa shared that she will need regular scans in the coming years to monitor her health.
Fatigue is a symptom of various health conditions, but it can also occur in people with cancer. Fatigue related to cancer may feel more intense than normal tiredness and may not improve with adequate sleep or rest.
However, just fatigue is not a reliable sign of breast cancer. It can be due to various other causes like anaemia, thyroid disorders, sleep problems, infections, stress and other medical conditions.
Vanessa's diagnosis puts focus on the importance of paying attention to unusual changes in the body, especially when they occur alongside other symptoms.
Breast cancer does not present in the same way in everyone. Some people may notice a lump, while others experience changes in the breast or surrounding areas like armpits or arms. Warning signs of breast cancer include:
Dr Saphier emphasised that breast cancer can present differently from one person to another. “When it comes to breast cancer, it's not one size fits all. It feels different for everyone,” she said.
A person should not wait for a lump to become large or painful. Anyone who notices a new breast lump, nipple change, or changes in skin should consult a healthcare professional.
Screening mammograms can help detect breast cancer before symptoms appear, but the appropriate screening schedule depends on age, risk and local guidelines. prioritise their health and seek timely checks.
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Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women, yet sex-specific cardiovascular risks often go unrecognized.
Four medical societies — the American Heart Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine — have issued new guidance to help clinicians identify these risks early and improve heart health in women and girls.
The guidance highlights heavy periods, irregular menstrual cycles and pregnancy complications as potential indicators of cardiovascular risk. It also introduces a “Female Life Stages” framework to guide prevention from puberty through menopause and beyond.
“Women experience their health care across clinical specialties, but it often is fragmented or disconnected,” said Sadiya S. Khan, chair of the collaborative writing group and professor of cardiovascular epidemiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
Also read: This Common Heart Attack Risk Starts Silently In Healthy People In Their 20s
Progress in preventing cardiovascular deaths among women has stalled over the past two decades. The new framework identifies four life stages as opportunities for early risk detection and prevention.
Pregnancy, at any stage, is also described as a biological “stress test” that can reveal previously unrecognized cardiovascular risks.
The guidance recognizes menstrual patterns as a female-specific vital sign. Heavy or irregular bleeding may indicate cardiovascular risk, including risks associated with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), previously known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Changes in cholesterol and metabolic health during perimenopause may signal rising cardiovascular risk. Early identification and preventive action may help reduce future risk.
The years after menopause can also account for up to 40% of a woman’s lifetime. Most heart attacks, strokes and heart failure events occur during this stage, according to the guidance. More than 80% of these events are considered preventable through early action.
Anxiety, depression and eating disorders can contribute to poorer cardiovascular health. The framework urges clinicians to consider psychosocial factors alongside hormonal and cardiovascular health.
High blood pressure, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, small-for-gestational-age infants and stillbirth are recognized as female-specific cardiovascular risk enhancers.
The 2026 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology cholesterol guideline also includes pregnancy-related factors in cardiovascular risk assessment.
Only about 60% of U.S. women with high blood pressure-related pregnancy complications receive follow-up care for their blood pressure within six months of delivery. The collaborating societies are calling for action to close this gap and ensure cardiovascular risks identified during pregnancy receive continued attention.
The societies propose a national network of Comprehensive Centers of Excellence for Women’s Cardiovascular Care, focused on clinical care, professional education, research and community engagement.
They also call for greater inclusion of women in research, increased funding for women’s health and better translation of evidence into clinical practice.
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There’s a new update in Novo Nordisk Vs Eli Lilly lawsuit over weight loss ads. On Monday, a US judge ruled in favour of Eli Lilly, rejecting Novo Nordisk’s request to block the Zepbound maker’s advertisements. The Danish drugmaker claimed that those advertisements were false and misleading, which affected markets with tens of billions of dollars of annual sales.
US District Judge Zahid Quraishi in Trenton, New Jersey, said that Novo Nordisk must not receive a preliminary injunction, as they have failed to prove that Eli Lilly's ads threatened their sales, marred its goodwill, or caused irreparable damage to clinical reputation.
Talking about Novo Nordisk's claim of irreparable harm, Quraishi said they were "inadequate to warrant the extraordinary relief it seeks."
Quraishi also said that Novo Nordisk's case is "less than persuasive" based on a "very preliminary record.” Not considering these merits, the judge passed the ruling after a two-day hearing in August.
In his 25-page decision, Quraishi said that even though Novo Nordisk's witnesses were reliable, Eli Lilly's ads had a negligible market impact between April and July. The judge also said that Novo Nordisk's business remained stable.
The judge also said that monetary compensation could help Novo Nordisk if it faces any "nontrivial harm" due to absence of injunction.
Novo Nordisk had reported combined sales of about $32 billion for obesity medicines and Ozempic in 2025, according to the court papers. The drugmaker intends to regain market share in the United States for its injectable obesity drugs, a market that could exceed $100 billion by the end of the decade.
According to Reuters, Novo Nordisk said, “While we are disappointed with the court’s decision, today's ruling did not decide the question of whether Lilly's advertising is false and misleading, and this litigation is still ongoing. Everyone deserves clear, accurate and up-to-date information when making decisions about their health.”
Denying any wrongdoing, Eli Lilly said it welcomed the court’s decision.
Also read: GLP-1 Drugs Ozempic, Zepbound Use Rises 24-Fold Among American Women After Childbirth
In July, Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk had filed a lawsuit against Eli Lilly in the US District Court in New Jersey, alleging the company violated federal and state false advertising and unfair competition laws, including the Lanham Act, through nationwide advertising campaigns for its obesity drug Zepbound and diabetes treatment Mounjaro, according to media reports.
Alleging that Eli Lilly’s ads used outdated comparisons,Novo claims Lilly's advertisements:
Eli Lilly rejected the allegations, saying its advertisements accurately reflect findings from its SURMOUNT-5 clinical trial. According to the company:
Also read: Eli Lilly's Experimental GLP-1 Pill Shows Promising Weight Loss
In December 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued its first guideline on the use of GLP-1 therapies for obesity, describing the condition as a chronic, relapsing disease affecting more than 1 billion people worldwide.
It recommends GLP-1 therapies may be used for long-term obesity treatment in adults, excluding pregnant women. Treatment should be combined with structured lifestyle interventions, including a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and behavioral support to improve outcomes.
Dr. Vivek Bindal, Principal Director & Head at Max Institute of Minimal Access, Bariatric & Robotic Surgery, said, “Newer anti-obesity medicines, including GLP-1-based and related therapies, have significantly expanded the options available to patients. They can support meaningful weight loss and improve metabolic health when combined with appropriate nutrition, physical activity and behavioural support.”
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