Wisconsin woman shoots herself in the butt after sneaking a GUN to MRI appointment in bizarre case revealed by FDA

A woman who tried to smuggle a gun into an MRI appointment was shot in the buttock after the machine fired a shot.

An unnamed 57-year-old Wisconsin woman was shot in the right buttock when the firearm she was carrying came too close to an MRI machine.

The trigger may have been pulled due to the powerful magnet of the MRI.

People may have an MRI for many reasons, including to detect tissue tears, tumors, spinal injuries or diseases, internal organ injuries, or brain diseases that are not detected on traditional X-rays (file photos).

The incident occurred in Waukesha, in the Milwaukee metropolitan area, in June 2023.

About a month later, her doctor reported this to the Food and Drug Administration’s Manufacturer and User Device Experience (MAUDE) Database.

Before entering the MRI room, the woman went through a standard screening process, during which she was asked if she had any potentially dangerous items on her, including whether she was carrying a weapon.

She answered no to all questions.

Patients undergoing MRI are strongly advised to leave anything that could be attracted to a magnet outside the room, including piercings, jewelry, cell phones, metal on or in clothing, and weapons, including guns.

People are even asked if they have tattoos and warned that they may experience discomfort or irritation because some tattoo inks may contain metal that will be attracted to the MRI magnet.

MRI uses strong magnets to produce detailed images of the body’s tissues, organs, and skeletal system. An MRI machine uses a magnet to create a magnetic field and radio waves to produce images of the body’s inner workings.

Even when the machine is not in use, its magnet is always active.

The 57-year-old man suffered minor injuries from the gunshot and made a full recovery without any complications. It is unknown whether the woman had a firearms license.

When undergoing an MRI, people are often asked to completely undress and put on a medical gown, but it is not known whether the woman was asked to do this or where she hid the weapon.

MAUDE is a voluntary reporting system for adverse events associated with medical devices.

According to the FDA report, after firing her own weapon, a doctor examined the woman and saw entry and exit holes that were “very small and superficial.”

The bullet only penetrated the subcutaneous tissue, the deepest layer of skin made mostly of fat cells and connective tissue where most of the body’s fat is stored.

The patient was transferred to the hospital and later reported that the wound was healing well.

People may have an MRI for many reasons, including to detect tissue tears, tumors, spinal injuries or diseases, internal organ injuries, or brain diseases that are not detected by traditional X-rays.

The device can be used to obtain detailed images of the entire body from almost any angle.

The body’s soft tissue contains water, and the magnetic field used in MRI affects microscopic substances in the soft tissue called protons. These magnetized protons send a signal to the MRI, and then a computer converts the signals into images that doctors can view.

It is unknown what part of the body the Wisconsin woman was scanned.

There were 102 reports of adverse events associated with an MRI machine or procedure in the FDA’s MAUDE system. Complaints include burned or irritated skin, hearing problems, and machinery malfunctioning and catching fire.

The MRI machine makes repeated loud noises, including loud clicks and beeps. An MRI can take anywhere from a few minutes to 1.5 hours depending on the size and location of the body part being scanned. For these reasons, people undergoing testing are usually provided with earplugs.