The family of Keith McAllister, a 61-year-old man who died in a horrific accident at a New York MRI facility, is preparing to take legal action following his death.
McAllister was fatally injured last week at Nassau Open MRI in Westbury after being pulled by the powerful magnetic field of the machine—while wearing a 20-pound metal chain. He suffered three heart attacks in the aftermath and did not survive.
According to the family, McAllister was invited into the MRI room by a technician who failed to warn him about the dangers of bringing metal into the area.
“This devastating incident underscores the urgent need for strict safety protocols in medical imaging environments,” said attorney Michael Lauterborn, who has been retained by the family. “We are committed to working with the appropriate authorities to ensure accountability and help prevent this from ever happening again.”
McAllister’s wife, Adrienne Jones-McAllister, was undergoing a routine knee scan when the accident occurred. Their daughter, Samantha Bodden, disputed earlier reports claiming McAllister had entered the room unauthorized.
“News outlets keep saying he wasn’t supposed to be there, but that’s not true,” Bodden stated. “The technician left the room, found him, and brought him in—without saying anything about the metal chain.”
Bodden added that she and her mother desperately tried to pull McAllister free before calling for emergency help.
The family has launched a GoFundMe page and is awaiting results from the investigation.
