# Why the hell do I have to get an MRI?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hell-do-i-have-to-get-an-mri/624248
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [June 6, 2012, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hell-do-i-have-to-get-an-mri/624248 "2012-06-06T05:43:15Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Crime\_Scene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crime_Scene)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2012, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hell-do-i-have-to-get-an-mri/624248/1 "2012-06-06T05:43:15Z")
I am starting a new job at a hospital and part of the hiring process is an MRI. My background in clinical management and business is why I’m taking this position, so I have no clue about a lot of the medical part. So, please help me here, why the hell do I need an MRI?
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### Author:  [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2012, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hell-do-i-have-to-get-an-mri/624248/2 "2012-06-06T06:34:05Z")
They’re looking for implants. They want to know if the aliens are using you to spy on them. Or maybe they want to give you a reeeaally thorough checkup before offering you the free $30,000 death or dismemberment coverage.
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### Author:  [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2012, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hell-do-i-have-to-get-an-mri/624248/3 "2012-06-06T08:25:04Z")
An MRI of what part of the body?
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### Author:  [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2012, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hell-do-i-have-to-get-an-mri/624248/4 "2012-06-06T10:20:41Z")
Why didn’t you ask the person who told you it was a requirement?
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### Author:  [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2012, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hell-do-i-have-to-get-an-mri/624248/5 "2012-06-06T10:32:36Z")
> [@Crime\_Scene](#):
>
> I am starting a new job at a hospital and part of the hiring process is an MRI. My background in clinical management and business is why I’m taking this position, so I have no clue about a lot of the medical part. So, please help me here, why the hell do I need an MRI?
Because it is billable to someone and every time they fire that puppy up, it goes good for their lease agreement. If you were an uninsured person with an obvious stroke going on, you’d have nothing to worry about.
My second guess… the HR Psychic is on vacation?
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### Author:  [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2012, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hell-do-i-have-to-get-an-mri/624248/6 "2012-06-06T10:33:38Z")
Perhaps to understand what a patient will go through. Just be thankful you don’t work in a South African diamond mine where they xray you each day as you leave to make sure you aren’t carrying out any gems.
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### Author:  [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2012, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hell-do-i-have-to-get-an-mri/624248/7 "2012-06-06T10:37:32Z")
Maybe it’s foreplay… first the MRI, then they’ll want a breast exam, a littly ob/gyn… and wham… before you know it, colonoscopy-city… an here you thought you were going to get a salary… but instead, you just got billed.
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### Author:  [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2012, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hell-do-i-have-to-get-an-mri/624248/8 "2012-06-06T10:45:53Z")
I’ve only ever had to submit urine for a drug screen and blood to check my immunity against Hepaitis B and Rubella for my hospital jobs. They also did a PPD to check for exposure to tuberculosis, and if someone fails that test due to either having been exposed or vaccinated, they were required to get a chest Xray done to check for TB in the lungs.
I’ve never _ever_ heard of requiring an MRI as a pre-employment screen. I would call back and confirm that you heard it right, and ask what it is supposed to be screening for.
A little work on Google shows me that it might be a new thing employers are doing to have a baseline to compare to if ever an employee files a worker’s comp claim. See [here](http://www.memphisorthogroup.com/services/pre-employment-screening) and [here](http://www.simsl.com/Publications/Articles/Cenac1208.html).
It seems to be mostly limited to jobs involving physical labor - employers want to weed out anyone with pre-existing back injuries, since those people are more likely to re-injure their backs at work and have to go out on disability. Whether this is legal, ethical, or even actually _happening_ with any regularity, I have no idea.
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### Author:  [@Crime\_Scene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crime_Scene)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hell-do-i-have-to-get-an-mri/624248/9 "2012-06-06T17:41:45Z")
> [@Antigen](#):
>
> I’ve only ever had to submit urine for a drug screen and blood to check my immunity against Hepaitis B and Rubella for my hospital jobs. They also did a PPD to check for exposure to tuberculosis, and if someone fails that test due to either having been exposed or vaccinated, they were required to get a chest Xray done to check for TB in the lungs.
>
> I’ve never _ever_ heard of requiring an MRI as a pre-employment screen. I would call back and confirm that you heard it right, and ask what it is supposed to be screening for.
>
> A little work on Google shows me that it might be a new thing employers are doing to have a baseline to compare to if ever an employee files a worker’s comp claim. See [here](http://www.memphisorthogroup.com/services/pre-employment-screening) and [here](http://www.simsl.com/Publications/Articles/Cenac1208.html).
>
> It seems to be mostly limited to jobs involving physical labor - employers want to weed out anyone with pre-existing back injuries, since those people are more likely to re-injure their backs at work and have to go out on disability. Whether this is legal, ethical, or even actually _happening_ with any regularity, I have no idea.
I didn’t not hear this from anyone. I am looking at the new employee paperwork they sent me in the mail. In front of me is a form to consent to an MRI, it is entitled, “MRI Screening Forms for Individuals” Then it goes on to tell me how strong the magnetic field is and not to walk in with change in my pockets et cetera. Then it goes on to ask a half of page full of questions about implants and prothesis’. Then at the very bottom it has a place for my signature to consent. Who knows I guess.
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### Author:  [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hell-do-i-have-to-get-an-mri/624248/10 "2012-06-06T18:34:39Z")
> [@kanicbird](#):
>
> Perhaps to understand what a patient will go through. Just be thankful you don’t work in a South African diamond mine where they xray you each day as you leave to make sure you aren’t carrying out any gems.
Diamonds don’t show up on X-ray. (former x-ray tech here)
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### Author:  [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hell-do-i-have-to-get-an-mri/624248/11 "2012-06-06T18:43:08Z")
Maybe it’s how they train the new MRI techs?
If you find out, please come back and tell us why.
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### Author:  [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hell-do-i-have-to-get-an-mri/624248/12 "2012-06-06T18:44:53Z")
> [@Rysdad](#):
>
> Diamonds don’t show up on X-ray. (former x-ray tech here)
[Rough diamonds would](http://www.mic-jones.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/diamond-in-rough.jpg). They’re normally still covered in bits of stone.
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### Author:  [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hell-do-i-have-to-get-an-mri/624248/13 "2012-06-06T18:49:15Z")
> [@Rysdad](#):
>
> Diamonds don’t show up on X-ray. (former x-ray tech here)
Not according to this:
> [@](#):
>
> De Beers, the diamond conglomerate that runs the largest legitimate operations in South Africa (not the conflict diamond operations run by South African rebel groups), randomly X-rays workers on their way out. Diamonds fluoresce when exposed to X-rays.
From: [http://people.howstuffworks.com/diamond-thief1.htm](http://people.howstuffworks.com/diamond-thief1.htm)
I think you just may need to increase the power to the ‘unsafe’ level setting.
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### Author:  [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hell-do-i-have-to-get-an-mri/624248/14 "2012-06-06T20:05:27Z")
Have you asked HR or the person who hired you? Why not? Don’t you think that would be more efficient than expecting Dopers to just _guess_?
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### Author:  [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2012, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hell-do-i-have-to-get-an-mri/624248/15 "2012-06-06T20:08:08Z")
I think that maybe (WAG) that some hospitals are worried that some people try to get hired there in order to get “great” health insurance coverage for a pre-existing condition they are hiding. They want to weed those people out.
Note that too many people think hospitals have great health insurance (After all they are hospitals!) but in reality they don’t.
I’ve seen TV shows where people doing this is a plot device. And if it’s shown on TV it has to be true in real life! Right?
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### Author:  [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2012, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hell-do-i-have-to-get-an-mri/624248/16 "2012-06-06T20:34:48Z")
> [@ftg](#):
>
> I think that maybe (WAG) that some hospitals are worried that some people try to get hired there in order to get “great” health insurance coverage for a pre-existing condition they are hiding. They want to weed those people out.
> ?
But there is a _lot_ of shit that doesn’t show up on MRI 😕
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hell-do-i-have-to-get-an-mri/624248/17 "2012-06-06T21:11:01Z")
Although it may be to uncover pre-existing conditions, I doubt the hospital cares about the cost of that since it would have negligible effect on their overall insurance cost. They may be concerned about someone unable to perform the job though. I’d also suspect that some kind of accounting trick helps justify the cost of maintaining the MRI facilities.
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### Author:  [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2012, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hell-do-i-have-to-get-an-mri/624248/18 "2012-06-06T21:36:06Z")
> [@ftg](#):
>
> I think that maybe (WAG) that some hospitals are worried that some people try to get hired there in order to get “great” health insurance coverage for a pre-existing condition they are hiding. They want to weed those people out.
>
> Note that too many people think hospitals have great health insurance (After all they are hospitals!) but in reality they don’t.
>
> I’ve seen TV shows where people doing this is a plot device. And if it’s shown on TV it has to be true in real life! Right?
The problem with this theory is that an MRI isn’t a general “discover all diseases” kind of device. You only scan a specific part of the body, and you usually have something specific you’re looking for. So unless they’re going to do 40 different scans and have a team of radiologists pore over them for hours (which doesn’t seem cost-effective for hiring anyone other than a star athlete), it’s not just a shotgun diagnostic procedure.
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### Author:  [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hell-do-i-have-to-get-an-mri/624248/19 "2012-06-08T20:58:50Z")
> [@Crime\_Scene](#):
>
> I didn’t not hear this from anyone. I am looking at the new employee paperwork they sent me in the mail. In front of me is a form to consent to an MRI, it is entitled, “MRI Screening Forms for Individuals” Then it goes on to tell me how strong the magnetic field is and not to walk in with change in my pockets et cetera. Then it goes on to ask a half of page full of questions about implants and prothesis’. Then at the very bottom it has a place for my signature to consent. Who knows I guess.
It sounds like a liability waiver/screening form for workers in the hospital. They don’t want you to take an MRI. They want to know your risk level for being around an MRI machine while it is in operation.
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### Author:  [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hell-do-i-have-to-get-an-mri/624248/20 "2012-06-13T15:54:59Z")
**Crime Scene** , what happened?
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