MRI safety experts are investigating a fatal MRI accident in New York in which a man was pulled into an MRI scanner and died soon after. Much is still unknown publicly about what happened and why. What is known is captured here, starting with the inaugural episode, Episode 1, of The Invisible Force podcast on the AuntMinnie.com Podcast Network.
Hosted by Tobias "Toby" Gilk, an outspoken voice for MRI safety standards, The Invisible Force will take listeners deep into the mystery and facts surrounding the July 16, 2025, fatal MRI accident at an open MRI imaging center in Westbury, NY. John Posh, senior MRI technologist and educator, co-hosts.
A dramatic portrayal of the frantic 911 call from the Long Island open MRI facility opens the show. A man has been pulled violently into the MRI scanner head-first, and he's in serious distress. The man, who would later be identified as 61-year-old Keith McAllister, reportedly had a 20-pound industrial steel chain and lock around his neck.
MRI safety is a major concern, as the show elucidates. A standard practice is to use a locked door to restrict entry into any MRI suite, regardless of whether it is in a hospital, freestanding imaging center, or in a mobile trailer (as it was in Westbury).
"Mr. McAllister was waiting in an area adjacent to the control room," Posh explains during the episode. "Essentially, he was sitting next to the technologist." What's more, the MRI scanner setup was "a bit odd," according to Gilk, who explains the situation. The big question: Was there a video from that day? Gilk and Posh explain what is now known.
Importantly, Episode 1 begins a series investigation of what is considered a sentinel event in healthcare. At this point, there may be more questions than answers, but that is something Gilk and Posh are trying to solve through the podcast series, as listeners will learn.
Were safety measures lacking? With intricate knowledge of MRI scanning facility design, best practice standards for MRI safety, and federal regulations -- and some confidential sources -- Gilk and Posh probe the details into one of the highest profile MRI safety cases in recent years.
Murder mystery meets MRI root cause analysis in The Invisible Force, according to Gilk. Listen now for the foundation of the case that made headlines worldwide. Keith McAllister is not the first to die in an MRI accident, but Gilk and Posh hope he will be the last.
Start with Episode 1 now.
Bonus episode
A bonus episode also kicks off The Invisible Force podcast premiere. Episode 2 will take listeners on a journey into superconductive MRI magnet systems, magnetic field strength, and what may have happened with the quench button in the McAllister case.
Host
Tobias "Toby" Gilk is the founder of Gilk Radiology Consulting. An architect by training, he has spent over 20 years focusing on MRI safety, initially through the architecture and planning of MRI facilities, but growing into the technology, clinical practice, regulation, and economics of MRI safety. Gilk holds both MR Safety Officer (MRSO) and MR Safety Expert (MRSE) certifications from the American Board of Magnetic Resonance Safety (ABMRS). An evaluator of serious reportable events (SRE), he is also a volunteer member of the Technical Expert Panel (TEP) of the National Quality Forum, and co-author of "The Technologist MRI Safety Handbook."
Co-host
John Posh is an MRI educator, safety consultant, and safety auditor with over 35 years of experience in the field of MRI safety and education, working with outpatient facilities, hospitals, and universities. He owns Posh Education in Bethlehem, PA, and currently serves as global director of education and training for Aspect Imaging, chief academic officer-MRI at John Patrick University, and adjunct professor of medical imaging at Rush University.
This episode of The Invisible Force is brought to you by AuntMinnie.com and the AuntMinnie Podcast Network. You can also find it on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Check out AuntMinnie.com's full podcast library, including extras, on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
