Commons committee says MRI directive is unnecessary
 A report by a Commons Committee has slammed the consultation process that has led to the much criticised EU Physical Agents (Electromagnetic Fields) Directive PDF which could place severe restrictions on the use of MRI for diagnosis, treatment and research.
The Commons science and technology select committee “discovered failings in the way that scientific advice was used to inform the directive, both in Brussels and in the UK.”
The report says: “We found that the (European) Commission was heavily reliant on one source of advice, the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection, and was not sufficiently responsive to concerns raised by the magnetic resonance community.
“As a result, it is deeply regrettable that the research necessary to establish whether or not the directive will inhibit the use of MRI scanners is only now being carried out, with a risk that it will not be complete in time to inform the implementation of the directive, due by 2008.
“On the basis of the level of certainty in the available scientific evidence, we agree with the government that there was not a strong enough case for a directive covering MRI: existing guidelines are sufficient.”
As the directive reads now, radiographers would not be allowed to remain in the MRI suite with a patient because of concerns that repeated exposure to electromagnetic fields may be dangerous.
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