Police investigating woman's 'suspicious' death during MRI exam

Police in India are investigating a “case of suspicious death” after a 61-year-old woman unexpectedly passed away during an MRI scan. 

Earlier in February, Nallaguchu Rama Tulasamma was admitted to Ayush hospital to undergo dialysis. Tulasamma, who also had known heart issues and had been fitted for a pacemaker two years prior, was sent for an MRI of her brain due to complaints of dizziness during her stay. Doctors wanted the imaging to check for blood clots, according to local news outlets. 

The MRI took place at a private diagnostic imaging center, with Tulasamma’s husband, Koteswara Rao, by her side to assist staff. He remained in the imaging suite during her exam to hold her legs and help keep her still.  

Rao said that his wife seemed fine at the start of the scan but could tell that she started to become uncomfortable. He tried to alert staff to her deteriorating condition but says the tech was unresponsive. It wasn't until the exam was complete that Rao and the staff realized Tulasamma had passed away. 

Rao has lodged a complaint against the imaging center, alleging its staff's failure to identify the risks related to his wife’s pacemaker and dialysis plug are what led to her death. However, officials at the district medical and health department say the woman’s pacemaker was compatible with the MRI scanner used for her exam. 

It was not immediately clear what Tulasamma’s cause of death was, and representatives of the imaging facility have not yet publicly commented on the matter.