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.
Credit: Instagram/Lindsey Vonn
American skier Lindsey Vonn told fans she is "making progress" after undergoing a successful third surgery for her broken left leg she suffered during the women’s Winter Olympics 2026 downhill over the weekend in Milan Cortina, Italy.
She was in pursuit of becoming the oldest Alpine skier, man or woman, to win an Olympic medal at the Winter Olympics 2026 in Milan, Italy, However, her dream came to an end after she crashed only 13.4 seconds into the downhill final and ended up with the life-changing injury.
The 2010 Winter Olympic gold medalist wanted to create a new record despite skiing in a brace merely nine days after rupturing the ACL in her left knee.
In a sentimental Instagram post, Vonn wrote: "I had my 3rd surgery today and it was successful. Success today has a completely different meaning than it did a few days ago. I’m making progress and while it is slow, I know I’ll be ok.
"Thankful for all of the incredible medical staff, friends, family, who have been by my side and the beautiful outpouring of love and support from people around the world. Also, huge congrats to my teammates and all of the Team USA athletes who are out there inspiring me and giving me something to cheer for."
The day after her debilitating crash, a devastated Vonn took to Instagram and told her followers: "My Olympic dream did not finish the way I dreamt it would. It wasn't a story book ending or a fairy tale, it was just life. I dared to dream and had worked so hard to achieve it.
"Because in Downhill ski racing the difference between a strategic line and a catastrophic injury can be as small as 5 inches.
"I was simply 5 inches too tight on my line when my right arm hooked inside of the gate, twisting me and resulted in my crash. My ACL and past injuries had nothing to do with my crash whatsoever. Unfortunately, I sustained a complex tibia fracture that is currently stable but will require multiple surgeries to fix properly.
"While yesterday did not end the way I had hoped, and despite the intense physical pain it caused, I have no regrets. Standing in the starting gate yesterday was an incredible feeling that I will never forget.'
READ MORE: Lindsey Vonn Airlifted With Broken Leg After ACL Injury Mid-Winter Olympics 2026
The 41-year-old American lost control over the opening traverse after cutting the line too tight and was spun around in the air, according to AP.
Vonn was heard screaming on camera after the crash while being surrounded by medical personnel. After being examined on site, she was strapped to a gurney and flown away by a helicopter, possibly ending the skier’s championship-packed career.
Vonn’s sister Karin Kildow said Vonn “put her whole heart” into making the Olympics. “That’s definitely the last thing we wanted to see,” Kildow told NBC. “When that happens, you’re just immediately hoping she’s OK, and it was scary. When you start to see the stretchers being put out, it’s not a good sign. She dared greatly, and she put it all out there.”
According to supplier Dainese, a mandatory safety air bag had inflated under Vonn’s racing suit during the crash. The air bag, which is triggered by a complicated algorithm when racers lose control, is expected to have softened her fall.
The US Ski Team later assured that Vonn is in stable condition and the Ca' Foncello hospital confirmed she is undergoing surgery to stabilize a fracture in her left leg.
Vonn's teammate and this year's gold medalist, Breezy Johnson later said of the crash: "To have this course burn you and to watch those dreams die, it was one of the most heartbreaking moments of my life.
"It’s not the physical pain, we can deal with physical pain, but the emotional pain is something else. I wish her the best and I hope that this isn’t the end."
The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), a vital ligament in your knee that connects the femur, or thighbone, to the tibia, or shinbone, is crucial for maintaining your stability and agility when playing sports. However, it is also among the most susceptible to harm.
An ACL rupture is basically described as a tear in the ligament that typically occurs in sports that involve quick changes in direction, such as basketball, soccer and skiing. Athletes typically hear a loud “pop” in the knee, which immediately gives out, followed by significant swelling.
An ACL tear may be a game-changer for players, keeping them out of the game for months and interfering with their training.
Credit: Instagram/Ben Stokes
England cricket legend Ben Stokes recently took to Instagram to reveal he underwent major surgery after he ended up with a broken cheek when he was hit by a ball while coaching at Durham's indoor cricket center, according to multiple reports.
The 34-year-old Test captain posted an image on his Instagram story showing his bruised and swollen right eye and cheek accompanied by the message: "May not look like it... but the surgery was a success."
Images show showed his eye heavily swollen and bruised. One picture posted on his Instagram stories also showed a graze on his cheek and lip and a bandage stuffed in his nose following the incident.
He captioned the image, "You should see the state of the cricket ball," followed by a laughing face emoji.

It remains unclear when Stokes will make a recovery and return to the pitch. The all-rounder has not played since the conclusion of the Ashes in Sydney on January 8.
He will be part of England Lions' coaching staff for the development side's series against Pakistan Shaheens in the United Arab Emirates next month. England's next Test is against New Zealand on 4 June, the start of a three-match series.
Facial fractures are broken bones in the face, which can include the jaw, nose and eye sockets. Since facial bones are thinner than a majority of the other bones in the body, they are the most prone to injury.
In Stokes case, he sustained a facial fracture on his cheek that usually causes pain, swelling, bruising and a flattened appearance. Immediate medical attention is necessary if the injured begins to experience numbness, vision changes or difficulty opening their mouth.

General symptoms may include:
Treatments for facial fractured depend on the severity of the injury. Non-surgical treatment plans include using ice packs for 15–20 minutes per hour, pain medication and resting with the head elevated.
However, if the bone is displaced, surgeons may use incisions inside the mouth or hairline to reset the bone, sometimes using small plates and screws to fix the fracture.
Recovery depends on several factors, including the extent of the facial trauma, treatment plans and the body’s own healing capacity. People who go through facial reconstructive surgery usually notice that swelling and bruising fade after about two weeks. But it can take up to a few months for complete recovery.
Credit: Canva
Three British Airways cabin members were taken to the hospital after they ate marijuana-laced sweets handed to them by a passenger during a flight from London Heathrow to Los Angeles.
The staffers were unaware that the sweets contained up to 300mg of THC, the main psychoactive compound in weed a produces the psychoactive effect.
The affected members are said to have had 'out-of-body experiences' after unknowingly consuming the weed-laced gummies. The airline has now launched an investigation to find the passenger who gave the crew member the marijuana edibles.
"It is a godsend in this case the sweets in question were not shared out among the crew until they had arrived in the US," one source told The Sun.
"They were consumed in the crew bus after touchdown, and tired staff gratefully gobbled them up. Almost immediately BA staff realized something was wrong.
"By the time the group had reached the crew hotel, three staff members who had numerous sweets began suffering 'out-of-body' experiences. They felt totally out of control and became panicked and scared."
As a result, the entire crew had to be grounded in LA and a new team was out in place to operate the return service. The affected members were flown back on a separate service days later as passengers.
THC is essentially the compound that causes the euphoric “high” associated with cannabis. It’s commonly consumed through smoking cannabis, edibles, tinctures, and capsules. THC also offers medical benefits but is more likely to cause psychoactive side effects.
Known for helping with nausea, appetite stimulation, chronic pain, and insomnia, this FDA-approved edible is used in synthetic forms (like dronabinol) for treating chemotherapy-induced nausea and appetite loss in conditions like AIDS.
THC can cause temporary effects like dry mouth, red eyes and increased heart rate. Long-term use, especially in adolescents, may be linked to psychiatric issues such as anxiety or low motivation.
While CBD is not intoxicating but has mild psychoactive properties, such as promoting relaxation, THC, however, directly binds to brain receptors, causing euphoria or a “high.
Furthermore, THC disrupts normal brain function, affecting memory, learning, and attention, especially in developing adolescent brains. It can cause acute panic, anxiety, and, in some cases, induce psychosis.
Along with this, it impairs coordination, slows reaction time, and alters judgment, directly contributing to motor-vehicle accidents.
Frequent use of marijuana has been previously linked to a higher risk of developing schizophrenia or other psychoses in people who are predisposed to these conditions.
According to the American Health Association, smoking cannabis also causes respiratory issues such as lung irritation and coughing as well as increases heart rate and blood pressure, which can raise the risk of heart attacks or strokes.
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