In the News
Article from the Belleville News-Democrat (8-22-02)Lawsuit alleges doctors left wire inside patient, caused health woes*
By Jennifer A. Bowen (jbowen@bnd.com)
A man who alleges a wire was left inside his heart and artery after a medical procedure is suing St. Mary's Hospital and 10 doctors for $975,000.
Gregory Hunt, who is represented by attorney Chris Kolker of Belleville, also named Total Renal Care and the Imaging Center of Southern Illinois in the lawsuit. The doctors named are: Charles Ampadu, Jean-Claude Jacob, Rashid Dalal, Jaafar Bermani, Mohamed Kuziez, Pankaj Shah, Douglas Domato, Brett Prywitch, Edward Fuetz and David Sorge.
In the suit, Hunt says a guidewire was "negligently and carelessly" put in his artery, and doctors failed to remove it after the procedure.
He also alleges X-rays were improperly and carelessly interpreted and doctors failed to locate the guidewire after he complained of chest and abdominal pain, shortness of breath and heart troubles. He alleges the pain was caused by the guidewire protruding in his heart.
The suit says he suffered permanent injuries to his "veins, arteries, heart and body" as well as "severe shock and permanent damage to his cardiovascular system and other systems of his body."
The doctors named in the suit and the three organizations are being sued individually for $75,000 each.
Alan Biggerstaff, vice president of patient care at the hospital, said he had not seen the lawsuit Wednesday and could not comment on it.