Sagittal Head MRIOpen MRI of Canada, a private clinic in Calgary, recently introduced the very first open MR (magnetic resonance) imager in the country. The company is marketing the new device as a viable alternative for certain patient populations, such as obese individuals who cannot fit in the confined spaces of the traditional MRI. This would also be helpful for patients with claustrophobia and for anxious children who can now be accompanied by their parents.

The current wait for non-emergent MR imaging averages 6 months in Canada. Naturally, Open MRI of Canada actively markets their services to physicians and health officials as a means to expedite the acquisition of diagnostic images. This comes at a price though: $695 (Canadian), which is still significantly cheaper than a traditional MR scan in the United States.

The recent introduction of Canada’s first open MRI is interesting, because it represents the gravitation toward capitalized medicine. The ideals of socialized medicine in Canada promote universal and equal access to health care. While the use of open MRI may be necessary for a subpopulation of patients, the privatization of this service can lead to a different level of health care for those who can afford it. Wealthier citizens can avoid the long waits to obtain an MRI. They can also avoid the cramped and noisy experiences of conventional MRI. With the production of room-sized MRI with landscape murals (Open Sky MRI by FONAR), the future luxuries of MRI may even be brought to a whole new level.

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