[nagdu] Guide Dogs and MRI

Mon Aug 31 18:38:36 UTC 2009

Pete, I had an MRI in April, and I had to be scanned with a metal detector
before I could enter the MRI room.  BTW, I also had to put on a hospital
gown, so no chance of having anything in my pockets.  I guess they do
things different in Texas.
Anyway, Ben could not have passed through the metal detector, unless I
took off all his clothes, too.  And frankly, I wouldn't want him in there
with no way to tie him up.  Nor would I want metal in there, if the techs
tell me it's dangerous. Sometimes, when someone says something is
dangerous, they're actually right.  Quite a concept, I know.

Even if the dog were in the room, there would have been no way for me to
control him, since I was immobilized in the machine, with my ears plugged
as well. That was the same for both MRI's I've had.

So you stick with your method, if it works for you, and I'll stick with mine.

> Hello again everyone,
>
>     I have had both kinds of MRI scans and had my dogs in the scanning
> room
> with me. As long as the dog was a ways back from the machine and secured
> in
> some way like I described previously. Everything was okay.
>
> My first MRI was done in the early 1990s and was a closed procedure. I had
> Ogden at the time and he accompanied me in the scanning room. Again there
> weren't any problems as he was secured away from the machine, but could
> still see and hear me. Before we determine that service animal
> accessibility
> issues cannot be mitigated with modifications or some kind we need to be
> sure that there isn't someone out there that was able to undergo a
> particular procedure with their dog present where the procedure is being
> done. I've read a number of messages from individuals who didn't believe
> it
> was safe to have their dog present during an MRI scan and that this
> accessibility concern was unmodifyable. Then along comes Pete Donahue to
> say
> "Tain't necessarily so" and goes on to describe his three MRI scans he
> underwent with his dog present. I'm not trying to start an argument but
> wanted to raise the cautionary "Red flag" when it comes to determining
> whether or not one's dog should be present during certain non-sterryl
> procedures such as MRI scans. Sterility issues aside this is a matter for
> the individual guide dog user to determine.
>
> Peter Donahue
>  ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Pickrell, Rebecca M (IS)" <REBECCA.PICKRELL at ngc.com>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 10:59 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Service Animals in Health Care Failities
>
>
> What Tracy says is correct.
> I went with a friend who needed an MRI done and nothing metal was
> allowed in the room.
> The MRI tech even asked if either of us was wearing an IUD, because
> apparently the old kind of IUD's which are not made anymore but which
> some women still have, will cause some real problems.
> Perhaps if you could have your dog not wear *any* metal at all and still
> guide, that would work, though I understand that a person must remain
> still during the MRI, so I do not know how you'd correct a dog if he/she
> were to act up. My friend was instructed not to talk, though I could
> talk to her which I did. She was in the type of MRI which has less
> resolution but which is also less confining. Perhaps the other kind of
> MRI, the closed kind has different reqirements though as the technology
> is the same, I don't see how this could be.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
> Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 8:14 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Service Animals in Health Care Failities
>
> I'm not Nicole, but...
> No metal object is allowed past a certain point in the MRI rooms,
> because of the powerful magnet that makes the MRI work.  A few years
> ago, a child was killed in an MRI machine because someone left a soda
> can in the room, and when they turned on the machine, the can flew into
> it.
> My dog has 2 metal objects on him when he's working, his harness and his
> collar.  So he can't come into the MRI room; he has to stay outside,
> possibly in the changing room.  But there won't be anyone there to watch
> him, and he could bother the next patient to come in, because she's
> getting ready while I'm still being scanned.
> For these reasons, I either bring someone with me to watch the dog in
> the waiting room while I get the MRI, or I'd leave the dog at home if no
> one could come with me.
> Tracy
>
>> Nicole,
>>     I can understand why you would not bring the dog in a hyperbaric
>> chamber but not sure why not in an MRI room. Could you share more
>> about this?
>>
>> Marion
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Nicole B. Torcolini" <ntorcolini at wavecable.com>
>> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog
> Users'"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2009 10:43 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Service Animals in Health Care Failities
>>
>>
>>> To answer your question, an MRI room and a hyper baric  chamber.  No,
>
>>> it is not safe for the dog to go in a hyperbaric chamber.
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf Of Marion & Martin
>>> Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2009 4:24 PM
>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>> Subject: [nagdu] Service Animals in Health Care Failities
>>>
>>> Nicole,
>>>    Your message raises another question for me. What is the type of
>>> area at your doctor's office in which you are restricted from taking
>>> your dog? I feel it is important for everyone to know that, according
>
>>> to the Centers for Disease Control's guidance on this, there are very
>
>>> few areas in which a service animal "poses a direct threat that
>>> cannot be mitigated by a modification of policies, practices, and
>>> procedures". These places are those in which everyone must take
>>> "universal precautions, i.e., wear gloves, gowns, & masks. It is not
>>> reasonable to expect a service animal to undergo such precautions.
>>> The entire document is attached to this message.
>>>
>>> Fraternally yours,
>>> Marion
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Nicole B. Torcolini" <ntorcolini at wavecable.com>
>>> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog
> Users'"
>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2009 3:34 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] The Requirement of a Harness
>>>
>>>
>>>> For those times that Lexia is out of the harness, but I still need
>>>> people to know that she is a guide dog, she has a vest that I bought
>
>>>> and sewed two patches on; I don't remember what the patches say.  .
>
>>>> An example of a time that I would use it is I take her to the doctor
>
>>>> with me and have to leave her with someone because she can not go
>>>> into a certain area.
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>> Behalf Of Julie J
>>>> Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2009 8:04 AM
>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] The Requirement of a Harness
>>>>
>>>> Marion,
>>>>
>>>> *let's consider our stays in hotels. During convention, I always
>>>> give my dog a day off in the middle of the convention. However, our
>>>> policy requires us to not leave our dog unattended in the rooms.
>>>> Therefore, I allow my dog to accompany me out of harness. From your
>>>> perspective, would this be unethical?
>>>>
>>>> *
>>>> For me this is not something I would do.  When I went to convention
>>>> with Belle I did give her time off, but I did have her harness on
>>>> while I used my cane and took her along on leash.
>>>>
>>>> *suppose I want to relieve my
>>>> dog. Should I be required to harness my dog to take her out if I do
>>>> not wish to work her? * Again for me it would depend on where I was,
>
>>>> how far it was to the place to relieve her and what I would have to
>>>> go through to get there.  At a large, no pets hotel, with a long way
>
>>>> to go to get outside, yes I would probably put the harness on
>>>> whether or not I was working her or using my cane.
>>>>
>>>> *And, if while I am out, I decide to stop into the restaurant to get
>
>>>> a couple of cups of coffee to take back to my room for merry and me,
>
>>>> should I be restricted from entering into the restaurant if my dog
>>>> is not in harness?
>>>> * Restricted, I don't know.  Again I would not be comfortable taking
>
>>>> my guide dog into a restaurant out of harness.
>>>> *Does my dog pose any greater threat to those in the restaurant if
>>>> she is not in harness?* No, not at all.  But I don't think that is
>>>> the issue.
>>>>
>>>> *    While I am at work and the dog is lying under my desk, should I
> be
>>>> required to keep my dog in harness to satisfy some ethical
>>>> consideration?
>>>> *
>>>> no.  That is your space.
>>>>
>>>> *Some schools and even more users train their dogs to guide on leash
>
>>>> without the harness.  Again, if I am at work and wish to get a drink
>
>>>> or step outside for some fresh air, should I be required to put the
>>>> harness on my dog?* Required? no, I don't think so, but again I
>>>> think I would put the harness on to do these things.  I also teach
>>>> my dogs to leash guide, but even if I am using leash guiding in a
>>>> public situation, I still have the dog in harness.
>>>>
>>>> I don't think it's an easy distinction to make, when to put on the
>>>> harness and when not to.  I think Ann Edie said it all better than I
>
>>>> could ever explain in her post from last week or the week before.  I
>
>>>> don't think that we should be required to have our dogs in harness
>>>> in particular situations.
>>>> I do think we need to make every effort to make sure that the public
>
>>>> knows that our guide dogs are guide dogs.  I think this is best done
>
>>>> by having them wear their harnesses.  Incidentally I also think that
>
>>>> other types of service dogs should wear a vest or other identifying
>>>> equipment, not because it is required, but because it is an easy way
>
>>>> to identify them as service
>>>> dogs.   It's like a name tag.  Sure people can do a job without a
> name
>>>> tag,
>>>> but doesn't it make things easier for the public when you can be
>>>> easily identified?
>>>>
>>>> I definitely don't think we need more rules about when or where or
>>>> how to handle our guide dogs, but at the same time I think we need
>>>> to do everything in our power to help the public understand what is
>>>> what so that no one feels that more rules are in order.
>>>>
>>>> Of course this is JMHO
>>>> Julie
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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