Scanner ban fears eased by vote

Controversial European rules which some specialists claimed were a threat to vital MRI scans have been put on hold, reported The BBC.

The directive set limits on exposure to powerful electromagnetic fields - but doctors claimed they were so low using an MRI scanner could breach them.

The European Parliament has now voted to delay implementation for four years.

A spokesman for the Parliament said it was still unclear whether MRI would have been affected, and further research would be carried out.

The magnetic field in an MRI scanner produces a detailed "3D" image of the body which can help diagnose serious illnesses such as cancer, or even help surgeons with "live" images during operations.

The directive, due to be in force this year, was designed to protect people from exposure to high levels of electromagnetism while at work.

The realisation that staff regularly operating the scanners in hospitals might be receiving an exposure higher than the proposed limit came only after the European Parliament had approved the measure.

Researchers discovered that simply regularly standing within a few feet of the machine could breach the limit.

Many healthcare groups have been lobbying MEPs and the European Commission to reconsider the plan.