Research Proposal: Safety of MRI Procedure During Pregnancy

This report is a research proposal addressing the safety of MRI procedures during pregnancy. It begins with a letter to the head of the MRI department at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, outlining the importance of MRI in diagnosing and treating pregnant patients. The proposal highlights the benefits of MRI over alternatives like ultrasound, while acknowledging patient concerns and negative perceptions regarding MRI safety. The proposal aims to investigate the potential risks, such as those associated with contrast agents like gadolinium, and proposes addressing patient education, public awareness, and developing new policies to enhance safety. The research intends to provide recommendations to increase patient confidence, improve the number of patients receiving MRI, and serve as a guideline for other hospitals and future research. The proposal references relevant studies and emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to ensure the safety and well-being of both the mother and the fetus during MRI procedures.

NewYork-Presbyterian Queens.
Department of MRI.
(Student Name)
(Address)
24th September 2019
Mr. Richard Howkins
Head of MRI Department
56-79 Main Street
Flushing, NY 11355
Dear Mr. Howkins.
I am writing this letter is to inform you about my proposal of the research topic
Safety of MRI Procedure during Pregnancy. The MRI procedure is among the
most crucial procedures in the hospital especially during pregnancy as it helps in
clarification of various symptoms that need immediate or urgent attention during
the treatment when a complication arises(Bulas and Egloff, 2013). Besides, this
procedure helps to provide vital images that are used to determine various medical
diagnosis more precisely. Understandably, MRI procedure uses a powerful magnet
to produce images and thus there are nominally no risks of radiations. One of the
major alternative use of MRI is the ultrasound. Many patients opt for ultrasound in
fear that MRI poses risks to their babies However, an ultrasound does not produce
more clear images as the MRI has. Therefore, patients need to be advised on the
safety of MRI to produce better results that enhance safety and quality care of the
patients.
Currently, there are no proven or evidenced risks of MRI to pregnant women and
their babies.In the department, there has never been any case of complication
reported as associated with MRI. However, the number of women who opt to take
MRI have been reducing day by day due to negative myths, patients perceptions,
and attitudes that MRI posses risks and can lead to poor development of the babies
during pregnancy and after birth. Despite this, the department is doing little to
enhance patient education and public awareness about the importance and risks
associated with MRI.
However, several studies have suggested that agents used in MRI procedures may
increase the risks(Sammet, 2016). For instance, although there is no enough
evidence, gadolinium-enhanced procedures have been posed to increase the risks
of neonatal deaths and stillbirths. In addition, such procedures have been said to
increase the risks of inflammatory conditions and skin diseases in neonates and
thus there is a need for research(Sammet, 2016). Besides, several mothers have
complained to be mishandled, exposed, or put in uncomfortable positions that pose
risks of falls thus reducing safety during the procedure process.
In this regard, I am requesting the head of the department to approve my research
proposal so that I can help in developing new policies and ethical issues that

enhance the safety of patients during the procedures. In addition, my research seek
to address patient education, creating public awareness and produce implications
for future practice and further studies. This in turn will be used to provide
appropriate recommendations that will increase the number of patients receiving
MRI in the hospital, reduce negative attitudes and perceptions thus enhancing
safety and reliable procedures in all patients. In addition, such recommendations
can be used as a guideline in other hospital and research.
I will be glad if you consider my research proposal.
Yours Sincerely,
(Student Name)
Nurse at MRI Department
(phone number)
(Email Address)

References.
Bulas, D. and Egloff, A. (2013) ‘Benefits and risks of MRI in pregnancy’, Seminars in
Perinatology. doi: 10.1053/j.semperi.2013.06.005.
Sammet, S. (2016) ‘Magnetic resonance safety’, Abdominal Radiology. doi:
10.1007/s00261-016-0680-4.