Many doctors say it is too dangerous to perform the common surgeries on people with high body mass indexes, like joint replacement, but patients say they are facing discrimination.
The last time Alicia Kline walked unassisted was in January 2021. She is in constant pain from hip arthritis and uses a walker and a wheelchair.
The problem is her obesity — her body mass index, or B.M.I., is over 50. And for someone like Ms. Kline, 54, of Reading, Pa., finding a doctor who is willing to give her a joint replacement that may ease the pain can be a near-impossible task.
Published on September 17, 2024
