▼ Summary
– A New York man is suing Prenuvo, alleging its $2,500 whole-body MRI scan failed to detect a major artery blockage that later caused his catastrophic stroke.
– The lawsuit claims the July 2023 scan showed a 60% narrowing in a key brain artery, but Prenuvo’s report stated there were no adverse findings.
– The patient suffered a massive stroke in March 2024, resulting in paralysis, vision loss, cognitive deficits, and permanent difficulties with daily activities.
– Prenuvo has attempted to limit damages by pushing for arbitration and applying California malpractice caps, but a judge has denied these motions.
– The radiologist who reviewed the scan had his medical license suspended for falsifying MRI findings in an unrelated auto insurance scheme.
A New York man is taking legal action against Prenuvo, a company offering whole-body MRI scans popular with celebrities, alleging that a critical warning sign was missed in his $2,500 examination. He contends that if the issue had been identified, he could have taken preventive steps to avoid the massive stroke he experienced months later.
Sean Clifford and his legal team assert that his scan from July 2023 revealed a 60 percent narrowing and irregularity in a major brain artery. This artery, the proximal right middle cerebral artery, is a common site for acute strokes. However, Prenuvo’s review of the images did not highlight this finding, instead reporting that everything in his brain appeared normal with “no adverse finding.”
Months later, in March 2024, Clifford suffered a catastrophic stroke. Follow-up medical imaging confirmed that the previously identified artery had progressed to a complete blockage, which caused the stroke. The event left him with paralysis in his left hand and leg, generalized weakness on his left side, and permanent vision issues including double vision. He also experiences anxiety, depression, cognitive deficits, speech problems, and significant, lasting difficulties with all daily activities.
Clifford filed a lawsuit against Prenuvo in New York State Supreme Court in September 2024. The core of his argument is that knowledge of the arterial problem would have allowed him to pursue preventive treatments, such as stenting or other minimally invasive procedures, potentially averting the stroke entirely.
The ensuing litigation has seen Prenuvo, based in California, attempt to limit potential damages. The company first sought to move the case to arbitration and then argued for the application of California law, which places caps on malpractice damages. A judge rejected both attempts. In a separate December ruling, the court also denied Prenuvo’s effort to shield the radiologist who reviewed Clifford’s original scan.
That radiologist, William A. Weiner, DO, has previously had his medical license suspended in connection with an auto insurance scheme. In that prior case, he was accused of falsifying findings on MRI scans.
(Source: Ars Technica)
