A jury in California has just ordered an insurance company to pay a staggering $28 million on a woman who had her leg amputated due to a delayed MRI.
In 2009, Anna Rahm was 17 years old who's been battling a severe pain in the lower back. She went to see a chiropractor who later recommended that she undergo an MRI scan after the provider noted it's unusual for a young person to have such kind of pain. The specialist also recommended Kaiser.
Kaiser Permanente is one of the biggest health insurers in the country with around 9 million members. Rahm, with her mother, then approached the office for an authorization. That's when the problems started.
The office didn't give it right away. First, she was recommended to lose weight, thinking that the back pain was due to her alleged obesity. However, at 125 pounds, her weight is just right for her 5"4' frame. She was also advised to visit an acupuncturist and nutritionist. These things she did, but her pain didn't go away. Instead, it only turned for the worse.
Eventually, Kaiser eventually gave in and agreed to the procedure three months after the request. By then, though, the test showed that not only did she have a tumor, it also spread to her spine and right leg. Half of her pelvic area was also occupied by the tumor. Her condition was so severe that her right leg had to be amputated.
Her attorneys then argued that if it weren't for the delay, her aggressive tumor would have been detected early, which could then have saved her leg.
Today, Rahm is trying to finish her studies with crutches since she doesn't want to use wheelchair. She hopes that after she graduates, she can help children with serious diseases.
She hopes that the verdict would change the way the insurer does business. Kaiser has long been accused scrimping costs on its clients.
