DOTmed News has been following the saga of MRI in Europe, which was threatened by a proposed European Commission directive to limit technologists' proximity to the scanner. The purpose was to include MRI in broader occupational safety laws to protect workers from electromagnetic exposure.

But the radiology community opposed the directive for MRI knowing it would restrict staff ability to assist patients in need of more direct contact such as the elderly or children. Such patients would likely be given X-rays instead of MRI.

The European Society of Radiology (ESR), a founding member of the Alliance for MRI, supported a delay and change in the proposed legislation on the basis that the rules would present a serious threat to the wide use of MRI, to patient welfare and scientific research.
The EU Physical Agents Directive 2004/40/EC (EMF) (link below) was to be delayed until April 30, 2012 to allow time for a substantive amendment to be adopted.

The story is making headlines again as the Alliance gears up for battle because the new draft of the rules is expected early this year. The Alliance is waging a physician petition campaign urging the Commission to exclude MRI restrictions. The petition is presented to registrants for the upcoming ECR. The European Congress of Radiology, the annual meeting of the ESR, takes place March 4-8 in Vienna.

Read the petition:
http://www.myesr.org/cms/website.php?id=/en/ESR_ECR_news

Read the original directive:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:114:0088:0089:EN:PDF

Read DOTmed's coverage:

Europe Delays Enactment of MRI Curtailment Directive
www.dotmed.com/news/story/5002

MRI Scans Will Be Stopped for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Will Suffer
www.dotmed.com/news/story/4799

European Directive Will Halt Use of MRI Scans; Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Will Suffer
www.dotmed.com/news/story/4781

Visit DOTmed at ECR, our booth is Expo E, # 568

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