ELSPETH ATTWOOLL MEP RELIEVED BY EU MRI SCANNER REVIEW

12.00.00am GMT Tue 19th Feb 2008

Elspeth Attwooll MEP has today expressed her relief at the European Parliament's decision to approve a Commission request to postpone and review a health and safety directive, which would have restricted the use of potentially life-saving MRI scanners.

Commenting, Elspeth Attwooll MEP said:

"I'm thoroughly relieved that the advice of medical professionals has been heeded, as MRI scanners are crucial to saving lives. The four year extension in the deadline for implementation should now be used to fully consider all available scientific evidence and expert advice."

ENDS

Notes:

• The Directive proposed new limits on the exposure of medical staff to electromagnetic fields generated by the imaging equipment used in MRI scans. This would have severely restricted the use of MRI scanners.

• If this extension hadn't been granted, the restriction would have come into force this year.

• MRI scans have been used in the UK for 25 years, with roughly 1 million scans performed each year.