MRI Argumentative Essay

Nearly all ancient societies practiced body modification through either piercings or tattoos. These ancient practices are becoming ever more present in our modern Canadian society, especially tattoos. One writer says, “Permanent tattooing is the process of body modification by deposition of a pigment into the dermis” (Simunovic and Shinohara 525). Due to skin damage associated with tattoos and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), tattooing should not be practiced in our modern Canadian society. Tattoos prevent the use of MRI because of the damaging reactions that can occur. Patients with tattoos who have undergone MRI scans have experienced first and second degree burns along with other negative side effects. One patient even had to go through the painful process of removing her tattoo, just so that she

This statement is true, but MRI scans provide distinct advantages over other forms of imaging. They do not subject the patient to radiation as many other types of imaging such as CT scans and molecular imaging do. Radiation is harmful because if cells are exposed to high doses of radiation over a short period of time, they may be killed. On the other hand, low doses of radiation over a longer period of time can result in damage or change to cell tissues. MRI’s eliminate as they do not use ionizing radiation. In agreement with the advantages of MRI, Kidwell et al. claim that MRI scans are just as accurate as CT scans in the detection of severe hemorrhage in patients with acute focal stroke symptoms; however, when it comes to detection of chronic intracerebral hemorrhage, MRI scans are much more accurate than CT scans (1823). Most patients hope to receive the best care they can and in some cases, like chronic intracerebral hemorrhaging, magnetic resonance imaging is the best form of medical imaging available. Unfortunately, if they have a tattoo, they may not be eligible to undergo a