Alliance for MRI Welcomes European Parliament Move

The Alliance for MRI has welcomed the European Parliament's approval of a derogation for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in its draft report on the revised Directive on Protecting Workers from Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields.

"Today's approval by the Plenary marks a milestone towards revising an erroneous European directive before it enters into force. In its old form, the Directive would have prevented patients from benefiting from MRI used in the diagnosis and treatment of their life-threatening diseases" remarked Professor Gabriel Krestin, former President of the European Society of Radiology.

The derogation for MRI is vital, as the revised exposure limits for workers in the proposed Directive would have prohibited the use of MRI in areas such as MRI-guided surgery (for example brain surgery) and in imaging vulnerable patients and children, where closer patient contact is required. New research and developments in MRI would have also been severely restricted, as would routine cleaning and maintenance of MRI equipment.

Mary Baker, President of the European Brain Council said: "The derogation for Magnetic Resonance Imaging that was endorsed by the Parliament today will ensure that serious brain conditions such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's will be diagnosed and treated to the benefit of patients in Europe. I am grateful that Members of the European Parliament have followed our arguments, enabling patient access to MRI whilst fully respecting the safety needs of health professionals working with the equipment. I now hope for a speedy adoption of the revised Directive by Member States."

Following today's Plenary vote, the Council is expected to adopt its official position, in line with the First Reading Agreement from April, as soon as possible.