[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Sang-hyun] The police have determined that the hospital was at fault in the incident where a patient undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at a hospital in Gimhae, Gyeongnam last October died after having their head and chest crushed by an oxygen tank.
The on-duty doctor on the day of the incident instructed that the problematic oxygen tank be brought down, and it was revealed that the radiologic technologist tacitly allowed this.
The Gimhae Western Police Station announced on the 28th that they will send a doctor and two radiologic technologists from a hospital in Gimhae to the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office on charges of professional negligence resulting in death.
The patient, A (60), was undergoing an MRI scan at the hospital at around 8:19 PM on October 14 when suddenly the oxygen tank was pulled in and crushed the head and chest area.
Immediately after the accident, the hospital performed emergency measures such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation on patient A at the scene, but ultimately the patient died.
According to the police, the MRI machine generated a magnetic force when operating, which attracted the metal oxygen tank located about 2 meters away, and the oxygen tank pulled into the machine pressed against patient A, causing the accident. The oxygen tank measured 128 cm in height, 76 cm in circumference, and weighed about 10 kg.
The National Forensic Service notified the police that patient A died from a concussion caused by the impact of the oxygen tank on the heart and head.
The police confirmed that the on-duty doctor instructed hospital staff to "bring the oxygen tank into the MRI room" and judged that there was professional negligence resulting in death.
The radiologic technologist was also judged to be culpable for tacitly allowing the oxygen tank and other metal medical devices to be placed near the MRI machine despite knowing the strong magnetism of the device.
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