RISE OF THE MACHINES: MRI Scanner Disarms Officer And Fires His Weapon

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An off-duty police officer went to an outpatient imaging center (notaffiliated with our institution) in western New York State to have an MRimaging examination. The facility housed a 1.5-T MR unit (Signa; GeneralElectric Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI) with active shielding. The officerwas carrying a model 1991 A-1 compact.45 caliber semiautomatic pistol(Colt's Manufacturing, Hartford, CT). The officer notified the technologistthat he was carrying the weapon before entering the MR dressing room. Thetechnologist told the officer to take the gun with him. The technologistintended to meet the officer in the MR patient waiting area before theexamination and secure the weapon in that room, where he felt it would besafe. However, the officer apparently misunderstood and took the gun intothe MR suite. The technologist was entering the officer's personal data intothe computer and did not see him entering the MR suite. Once the officer wasinside the MR suite, the gun was pulled from his hand as he attempted toplace the gun on top of a cabinet 3 ft (0.9 m) away from the magnet bore.The gun was immediately pulled into the bore, where it struck the left sideand spontaneously discharged a round into the wall of the room at the rearof the magnet. Fortunately, no one was injured. Although the gun struck themagnet bore, only minimal cosmetic damage occurred to the magnet itself. TheMR unit had full functional capability immediately after the gun discharged.The weapon's thumb safety was reportedly engaged when the gun discharged. Anunsuccessful attempt to remove the gun from the magnet resulted in the gunbeing pulled to the right side of the magnet. The decision was then made topower down the magnet to remove the gun.
As a general rule of thumb, we think it is wise to be armed for self-defensepurposes, but we're of the opinion that leaving your gun at hope or lockedsecurely in a safe in your car may be your better decision if you are havingan MRI scan. So here's a parting question for you: does this count as anegligent discharge, an accidental discharge, both, or neither?