No more MRI scans in Europe?
At the EFNA (European Federation of Neurological Alliances) General Assembly in Brussels on Friday 5th November, Dr Stephen Keevil gave a very interesting talk. He explained that there is currently a battle going on with the European institutions over MRI scanning because an EMF Directive adopted in 2004 imposes unnecessary restrictions on the use of MRI scanning for neurological conditions.
Broadly speaking, the Directive aims "to protect workers from the risks associated with electromagnetic fields owing to their effects on health" but the rules apply to all employment sectors without scope for exemption or risk-benefit analysis. As the proposals now stand, the outcome is likely to have an effect on probably 300,000 patient examinations per year because it is not possible to alter practices when conducting scans and no account has been taken of the fact that MRI scanners are already built to ensure that safety thresholds are not breached.
Due to vociferous campaigning, the implementation of this Directive has been delayed but not scrapped. (Even obtaining a delay is unprecedented in the Commission's history, apparently.) It is hoped to get MRI scanning excluded altogether from the exposure limits in the Directive. However, as things stand, the situation is far from being resolved, and the Directive will need to be transposed into domestic law by all member countries by April 2012.
It would seem that many neurologists have not been made aware of the implications of this Directive. We are hoping that as many readers as possible will offer their support to Alliance for MRI by visiting their website, http://www.alliance-for-mri.org/, signing the petition, ands spreading the word.
Very many thanks.
Posted 8 November 2010
