Colon cancer not timely diagnosed, suit states

A man who was recently diagnosed with colon cancer has filed suit against Carehand and one of its doctors and against Clinical Radiologists and one of its doctors, alleging he was not timely diagnosed.

Jeffrey Metrick claims his colon cancer went undiagnosed and untreated for a long time, resulting in the progression and spread of the disease.

Carehand and Dr. Dorothy M. Loderstedt had been treating Metrick from May 2004 until he was diagnosed with the disease on Oct. 14, 2006, according to the complaint filed Feb. 11 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

He also was under the treatment of Clinical Radiologists and Dr. Valdislav I. Gorengaut on Nov. 26, 2006, when they failed to detect an astomotic leak for two weeks, resulting in further infection, disease and inflammation, the suit states.

Because the doctors waited so long to diagnose him with colon cancer and because they failed to detect the astomotic leak, Metrick has sustained constant pain and suffering and has incurred medical costs, the suit states.

Carehand and Loderstedt were negligent by failing to order colorectal screening in a patient over the age of 50, by failing to order a colorectal screening in a patient with a family history of colon cancer and by failing to obtain an adequate history from a new patient, Metrick claims.

Clinical Radiologists and Gorengaut were negligent by failing to diagnose an astomotic leak in a gastrografin that was performed on Nov. 26, 2006, according to the complaint.

In the four-count suit, Metrick is seeking a judgment in excess of $200,000, plus costs.

Jospeh A. Bartholomew of Cook, Ysursa, Bartholomew, Brauer and Shevlin in Belleville will be representing him.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-0109.