A New York man has filed a lawsuit against Prenuvo, claiming its $2,500 whole-body MRI scan failed to detect a critical artery narrowing that led to his massive stroke months later. Sean Clifford argues that early intervention could have prevented his severe disabilities. The case highlights ongoing debates about the reliability of elective full-body scans.
Sean Clifford underwent a whole-body MRI scan at Prenuvo on July 15, 2023, costing $2,500. The imaging revealed a 60 percent narrowing and irregularity in the proximal right middle cerebral artery, a key vessel often linked to strokes. However, Prenuvo's report stated that his brain appeared normal, with no adverse findings flagged.
Nearly eight months later, on March 7, 2024, Clifford suffered a devastating stroke when the artery became fully blocked. The incident left him with paralysis in his left hand and leg, weakness on his left side, permanent vision loss including double vision, and challenges including anxiety, depression, mood swings, cognitive issues, speech difficulties, and struggles with daily activities.
In September 2024, Clifford sued Prenuvo in New York State Supreme Court, asserting that awareness of the issue could have prompted stenting or other preventive measures. Prenuvo, based in California and backed by figures like Kim Kardashian, Cindy Crawford, and Anne Wojcicki, attempted to enforce arbitration and apply California's damage caps, but a judge rejected both motions in December. The court also refused to protect the reviewing radiologist, William A. Weiner, whose medical license was suspended over falsified MRI reports in an insurance fraud case.
Clifford's lawyer, Neal Bhushan, welcomed the ruling: “I am pleased that the court sided with us. This ruling reaffirms the strength and merits of our medical malpractice and negligence claims, and we look forward to continuing to litigate this matter in New York County Supreme Court.” Prenuvo responded: “We take any allegation seriously and are committed to addressing it through the appropriate legal process. Our focus remains on delivering safe, high quality, proactive care to the patients who place their trust in us every day.”
The lawsuit underscores broader concerns about elective whole-body MRIs, which are not insurance-covered and lack endorsement from bodies like the American College of Radiology. Critics argue these scans often yield insignificant findings, prompting unnecessary tests and exacerbating healthcare inequities, while potentially overlooking serious issues in non-targeted reviews.
