Doctor With Leukemia Sues for Disability Pay Over Covid Risk

An anesthesiologist with leukemia sued Unum Group and a subsidiary for disability benefits, saying he’s been unable to perform his job during the pandemic because of his high risk for death or serious illness if he contracts Covid-19.

The anesthesiologist says he became disabled under the terms of his benefits plan in early March 2020, based on his high-risk status as a leukemia patient. These conditions made him unable to perform the daily tasks of his job, which involve emergency ventilation procedures, laryngoscopies, and intubations, all of which are “‘high hazard’ aerosolizing procedures,’” he said in a complaint filed Monday ...