Robin T. Maynard
Bethel University
Abstract
The introduction of Magnetic Resonance Imaging several years ago has a tremendous effect on our society today. This procedure enables physicians to diagnose and possibly cure several diseases which could otherwise prove to be fatal. As for anything in our society, there are some people who will criticize and find the negative points to it, however the positive impact that MRI scanning has on our society definitely outweigh any negatives.
How the MRI Procedure has an Impact on Society Since the introduction of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, better known as the MRI scan, medical technology has taken a huge step forward in assisting the diagnosis of sometimes fatal diseases. This in turn has a tremendous impact on our society today; it gives medical professionals an advantage in diagnosing and treating diseases in the earlier stages. Without such tests as the MRI, many lives may be lost that could have otherwise been saved. While the advantages are great, as with any test, there are some disadvantages as well. Overall, the advantages greatly outweigh the disadvantages. The MRI is another step towards equipping health care professionals with ways to treat and cure the people of the world who become ill or injured. Dr. Raymond Damadian, a physician and scientist, experimented for some time attempting to produce a machine that could scan the body with the use of magnets. Along with some graduate students, he constructed a magnetic device that he hoped would produce an image of inside the human body. Since no one wanted to be the first one in this apparatus, Damadian volunteered to be the first patient. When he climbed into the device, nothing happened; Damadian was looking at years wasted on a failed invention, but one of his colleagues bravely suggested that he might be a bit large for the machine. A graduate
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