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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Kaiser Delayed Cancer Diagnosis, Couple Says

PORTLAND, Ore. (CN) - A man's prostate cancer went undiagnosed for four years, he and his wife claim in Multnomah County Circuit Court, seeking $7 million.

Sam Pieh and his wife Kari Howland sued Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, Northwest Permanente, P.C., Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest and a doctor, John Woo, for personal injury and medical malpractice. Pieh seeks $5 million in non-economic damages and $1 million in economic damages. Howland seeks $1 million in non-economic damages.

According to the lawsuit, Pieh was seen at Kaiser for prostate-related symptoms in August 2010, May 2011, May 2012 and May 2013. Despite his elevated PSA test levels, which were known in 2010 and 2011, no additional PSA test was ordered in 2012 or 2013, according to the complaint.

"As a result of defendants' negligence, the diagnosis and treatment of Sam Pieh's prostate cancer was unreasonably delayed, resulting in him developing Stage III prostate cancer, having to undergo a radical prostatectomy, suffering prolonged pain and distress, impotence and partial incontinence and having a shortened life expectancy," the complaint states.

In addition to the $7 million, Sam Pieh and Kari Howland seek a jury trial. They are represented by Patrick L. Block in Gresham.

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