Suit claims physicians failed to recognize coronary vessel disease

The wife of a recently deceased man has filed suit against the healthcare facility where she claims doctors failed to diagnose his heart conditions, leading to his death.

Cartha A. Harrah filed a lawsuit May 9 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Emergency Department Associates and Emcare Physician Services.

In her complaint, Harrah alleges her husband, Walter E. Harrah, visited Emergency Department Associates. However, while he was there, a doctor failed to recognize that his symptoms were indicative of coronary vessel disease, failed to obtain information from an emergency room visit and failed to obtain an EKG in a patient who had symptoms suggestive of coronary vessel disease, according to the complaint.

Because of the care he received, Walter E. Harrah died on May 9, 2011, after he experienced an out-of-hospital cardiorespiratory arrest the same day, the suit states.

Due to Walter E. Harrah’s death, his wife has experienced grief and sorrow and has lost her husband’s companionship, comfort, instruction, guidance, counsel, training, love and support, the complaint says.

In her complaint, Cartha A. Harrah seeks a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs.

Joseph A. Bartholomew of Cook, Ysursa, Bartholomew, Brauer and Shevlin in Belleville will be representing her.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 13-L-245.