You might know him best from his role on "Walker, Texas Ranger" or his signature roundhouse kicks, but Chuck Norris is taking his grit to the courts with a new lawsuit. Filed against medical device manufacturers, 77-year-old Norris claims that a chemical used in MRI imaging scans poisoned his wife, Gena Norris. As Biz Journals reported, Norris is determined to find justice for those who believe they have been poisoned by "normal" or common MRI scans.
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The lawsuit was filed in San Francisco Superior Court by Chuck and Gena Norris. The couple is seeking "unspecified damages, coverage of past and future medical expenses, which the Norrises say have totaled more than $2 million over the past five years." Additionally, the lawsuit aims to reconcile with compensation for loss of income, including movies he turned down while he was caring for his wife.
The lawsuit was specifically filed against McKesson Corp and ACIST Medical Systems, among other defendants. The suit specifically deals with the use of gadolinium that doctors injected into Gena Norris so her MRI images would be clearer. Norris stated that instead it left her tired and weak with burning sensations. Additionally, Gena Norris has suffered "debilitating bouts of pain," according to the Associated Press, since the MRI.
Gadolinium is a metal that is commonly found in contrast agents that many doctors use to get clearer MRI images. The American College of Radiology stated in 2016 that gadolinium-based agents have been crucial in diagnosis and treatment plans for over 300 million patients since the late 1980s. However, studies have shown that gadolinium is retained by organs like skin, bones, and the brain.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA, stated in May 2017 that it found no evidence gadolinium was harmful; an agency for the European Union came to the same result in July 2017, though some agents were suspended as a cautionary measure.
While Norris' lawsuit states that there is no official link between gadolinium and symptoms of people who believe they've been poisoned by the metal, the couple filed because most doctors were previously unaware of diseases affected by gadolinium, with the exception of kidney problems. The Norrises believe that further testing is required for this often-misdiagnosed condition.
For now, check in with your doctor for concerns about gadolinium if you have an upcoming MRI.
This post was originally published on November 9, 2017. We're republishing this because it's a popular read and we think it's never too late to educate yourself on the effects of gadolinium.
