A gadolinium MRI lawsuit was filed in early November 2017 by actor Chuck Norris and his wife Gena in San Francisco Superior Court. This MRI lawsuit shines a light on the potential side effects of using gadolinium—a heavy metal contrasting agent which is injected into some patients prior to getting magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Gadolinium helps physicians to get better pictures of body tissues, organs, and vessels where it is critical to do so for diagnostic purposes. Use of such an agent has been thought to be absolutely necessary, particularly when growths or tumors are being medically scrutinized.

Chuck Norris Speaks Out on Behalf of His Wife

Chuck Norris and his wife Gena made the decision to file the MRI lawsuit after Gena was diagnosed with gadolinium deposition disease—a rare condition where gadolinium remains in the body and causes debilitating symptoms including an overall burning sensation throughout the body and widespread pain. According to the actor and martial arts expert, his wife will likely have life-long damage.

Gena Norris underwent several MRI procedures in an attempt to diagnose a health issue thought to be rheumatoid arthritis. While this ailment was not found to be applicable to her health picture, Gena says she began to have episodic shaking, deficits in cognition akin to brain “fog”, numbness and tingling in her extremities, and difficulties in catching her breath after the series of diagnostic procedures.

She has since been told that in addition to gadolinium deposition disease, she has severe kidney damage.

The movie star and his wife are seeking $10 million in damages against the McKesson Corp. and Italian healthcare company Bracco S.p.A. among several named defendants in their MRI lawsuit. McKesson is a distributor of pharmaceutical products, and Bracco S.p.A. does research and development for imaging.

All defendants are being accused of failing to warn the public of the dangers of this and other contrasting agents which are comprised of heavy metals. Several other plaintiffs are reportedly preparing similar claims against contrasting agent manufacturers.

Gadolinium and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

In July 2015, the FDA announced that it intended to begin investigating gadolinium and similar contrasting agents for safety. In mid-December 2017, the drug oversight agency released a safety alert which revealed findings that gadolinium can remain present in the body for months or even years, causing adverse side effects and medical events in some people.

In some extreme cases, a condition known as nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) can develop. This rare complication tends to occur in patients with a pre-existing kidney function disorder. Failure of organ systems has been noted to happen as well, ultimately ending in the demise of the patient.

The MRI lawsuit and FDA safety warning highlight other symptomology of gadolinium toxicity which include headaches, joint pain, memory loss, pain in tendons and ligaments, and overall body pain and burning. There have also been reports of thick or tight skin in the hands and feet.