Woman's benefits withdrawn due to large breasts
A Swedish woman injured in a car accident has had her disability benefits withdrawn after the country’s social insurance agency determined her large bust was to blame for the pain.
“My breasts have been large since I got them. But I didn’t have any problems with pain before the car accident,” Jessica Andersson told the Helsingborgs Dagblad (HD) newspaper.
Andersson learned last week that the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan) was cancelling disability payments for whiplash injuries she suffered in a car accident six years ago.
While driving to work, she was hit from behind and has had problems with pain in her neck and shoulders ever since.
But in November, the agency ruled that Andersson’s injuries could no longer be considered work related, resulting in the cancellation of her monthly work-related disability payments of 7,700 kronor ($934).
The agency’s decision comes following an assessment from a doctor suggesting that Andersson could return to work if she had breast reduction surgery.
“I’m 99.9 percent sure that it wouldn’t make a difference if I had surgery on by breasts. It’s not ideal to have neck injuries and at the same time have heavy breasts, I understand that. But the injury would still be there after an operation,” said Andersson.
The same doctor had previously diagnosed Andersson as having psychiatric problems, a diagnosis which she successfully appealed.
Andersson is currently considering an appeal of the ruling to have her payments withdrawn.
“I had understood authorities to be impartial, but I don’t feel that way any longer. I see this as more of a political judgment than a medical one,” she said.
Comments
See Also
“My breasts have been large since I got them. But I didn’t have any problems with pain before the car accident,” Jessica Andersson told the Helsingborgs Dagblad (HD) newspaper.
Andersson learned last week that the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan) was cancelling disability payments for whiplash injuries she suffered in a car accident six years ago.
While driving to work, she was hit from behind and has had problems with pain in her neck and shoulders ever since.
But in November, the agency ruled that Andersson’s injuries could no longer be considered work related, resulting in the cancellation of her monthly work-related disability payments of 7,700 kronor ($934).
The agency’s decision comes following an assessment from a doctor suggesting that Andersson could return to work if she had breast reduction surgery.
“I’m 99.9 percent sure that it wouldn’t make a difference if I had surgery on by breasts. It’s not ideal to have neck injuries and at the same time have heavy breasts, I understand that. But the injury would still be there after an operation,” said Andersson.
The same doctor had previously diagnosed Andersson as having psychiatric problems, a diagnosis which she successfully appealed.
Andersson is currently considering an appeal of the ruling to have her payments withdrawn.
“I had understood authorities to be impartial, but I don’t feel that way any longer. I see this as more of a political judgment than a medical one,” she said.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.