“WSIB says no to U.S. program that inspired double amputee to walk” / Patty Winsa (Toronto Star, Nov. 23, 2014)
Giuseppe Chessari, who lost both legs in a 2009 industrial accident at a Mississauga recycling company, needs to replace outdated artificial limbs and a painful socket. In 2013 the Board denied approval to to return to Hanger Inc., the U.S. prosthetics company that specializes in rehabilitating injured military personnel. This is where he received treatment in 2010 (with Board authorization) that enabled him to walk again after failing to progress sufficiently in a local rehabilitation centre.
While the WSIB has recognized the medical necessity and will pay for new state-of-the-art limbs, it has refused out-of-province expenses for the custom-made socket and leg alignment his doctor says are required. Article also shows how deeming will affect this injured worker once the job training course has ended…