Imagine you have to undergo a CT scan that could show you have a life-threatening disease. It’s a stressful situation thousands of patients across the country experience every day. Now, imagine your anxiety level if you discovered that wiring in that machine was repaired using common household electrical tape - or it was held together using bent screws, zip ties, and tin foil.
This might sound far-fetched, but unfortunately it isn’t. Third-party repair companies have been found to use these inappropriate techniques in an attempt to repair imaging devices such as CT, MRI, and ultrasound.
If a medical imaging device malfunctions due to improper servicing, a diagnosis could be missed, care could be delayed, or the patient could be severely injured or even killed. We can’t standby while something as vital to patient care as medical imaging has the potential to go wrong.
Legislation was just introduced on Capitol Hill that would require third-party device service companies to register with the FDA as a first step to ensure medical imaging equipment is serviced properly. Add your name to urge Congress to stand with patients by cosponsoring this bill.
The Right Scan Right Time campaign is a community of thousands of patient advocates from across the country who fight to expand and protect patient access to life-saving medical imaging technologies.
Our community understands how important medical imaging is to patient care and we need your help advocating for the best service for these complex devices.
Dear [Representative],
As your constituent, I urge you to cosponsor H.R. 2118, “Ensuring Patient Safety through Accountable Medical Device Servicing,” to show your support for patients.
This bipartisan legislation introduced by Reps. Ryan Costello (R-PA) and Scott Peters (D-CA) would require the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to implement minimum requirements and oversight of all medical device service providers to ensure consistent quality, regardless of who is servicing the equipment. Inconsistent regulation of medical device servicing activities threatens the performance of these devices and puts patients at risk.
If a device fails to perform in a safe and effective manner due to improper servicing, the patient could be injured or unable to get the care they need. It is critical that medical device servicing activities should be regulated consistently.
As a result of this reduced performance, patients risk lower quality medical images with inconclusive results, resulting in misdiagnosis or the need for additional scans; or they may come into contact with improperly sanitized materials, resulting in infection. Patients may also receive too much medication, which could lead to overdose or even death. In general, patients also risk suffering physical injuries, such as burns or bruises, from malfunctioning devices that aren’t operating safely.
[Your Comment Here]
Patients should be able to assume safety and efficacy when getting a scan. Thank you in advance for making patients a priority.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
