who orders an MRI?

Dear ladies: I've been in touch with a researcher in San Diego who's doing an ExAblate fibroid study, but before they'll tell me if I'm a candidate they want to see a specific type of screening MRI done within the last 6 months. I've never had an MRI in my life! How does one go about getting a referral for one?

Two gynecologists so far have told me I need a hysterectomy. My last ultrasound was May '06 showing "multiple uterine leiomyomas. The left ovary is not visualized." It's bugging me tremendously not to have a better idea what's going on in there, and also bugging me that these doctors are ready to operate on what seems like very little information.

I'm feeling a little better about the second doctor -- he is kind of a ******* <oops! please do not attempt to override the censor! > and patronizing as all get out, but did get me a referral. (Get this: the last sentence in his letter to the radiologist was, "I would be interested in your assessment and recommendations for this very pleasant young woman." ) Since he might end up operating on me, I don't necessarily want him to know I'm going completely over his head by asking him for an MRI to find out whether I can participate in somebody else's experiment.

Any ideas?

Any doc can order it. To have it done in my case since I have an HMO plan I have to get the actual referral from my primary care physician. I then have to go the hospital that her practice is associated.

Ex. I was seeing an orthopedic specialist who wanted an mri of my knee. Took the prescription from the orthopedic specialist to my primary who then got permission from insurance company to get the mri.

So in HMO land, imaging test requests have to go through the primary care physician. However, I as a patient, can ask my primary for the test and give my reasoning for it.

Some insurances allow you the freedom to go anywhere.

I had to get an MRI twice for the Exablate procedure and the first script was written by my Primary care physician and the second from my GYN. GYN only did it because I am scheduled for surgery in March but I will be cancelling because I'll be having a second MRgFUS ablation and avoiding surgery.