Canellada v. Preferred Open MRI

In September 2024, Chicago resident Ramon Canellada filed a federal lawsuit against Preferred Open MRI, Ltd., d/b/a Preferred Imaging Centers, challenging its illegal refusal to provide him with healthcare services because of his disability in violation of the ADA and other disability rights laws. Open MRI provides imaging services at seven locations across the Chicagoland area. Mr. Canellada is represented by Access Living and Disability Rights Advocates. Read the complaint.

Open MRI is required by law to provide equal access to medical services to people with disabilities. Yet when Mr. Canellada arrived for his pre-scheduled MRI appointment, he was refused service and sent away because he uses a wheelchair for mobility.

It is well-documented that people with disabilities experience significant disparities in the standard of care received from healthcare providers due to the pervasive existence of access barriers. Said Mr. Canellada: “It is no surprise that people with disabilities complain about access to healthcare when we have to fight tooth and nail just to get seen. We want the same access to healthcare in our community just like everyone else has.”

In April 2025, DRA reached a settlement agreement with Preferred Open MRI. As a result, Open MRI will implement new policies and practices to ensure its healthcare services are accessible to patients with mobility disabilities, procure accessible medical equipment, and train its staff to provide transfer assistance. Open MRI will also revise its scheduling procedures to ask patients and prospective patients about their disability-related needs, engage in individual assessments of patients’ disability-related needs such that they may accommodate them and maximize their independence in the provision of services, designate an employee as an ADA Compliance Officer, institute a complaint process, and train its staff regarding best practices in the provision of services to patients with disabilities and their obligations under federal law. Read the settlement agreement.