A female patient is suing two doctors and a Melrose Park hospital, alleging they removed her stomach unnecessarily.
Beulah Johnson, of Bellwood, filed a complaint June 11 in Cook County Circuit Court against Loyola Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, Dr. Donald D. Nash and Dr. Mohamed Z. Sait.
According to the complaint, on June 11, 2013, Johnson went to Gottlieb in Melrose Park, complaining of weakness in her legs, unstable walking and weight loss, and a week later, Sait performed a colonoscopy and gastroscopy to evaluate Johnson's elevated liver enzymes. The report of those procedures and a follow-up CT scan showed a potential adenocarcinoma, the suit says.
The lawsuit says on June 24, 2013, Sait did another endoscopic procedure and took more biopsies, and the pathology report showed there was no intestinal metaplasia. Yet, two days later, Nash performed a gastrectomy, with no signs of cancer showing, the lawsuit states.
The suit says the hospital was negligent in allowing Johnson's June 18 pathology sample to become contaminated with tissue from another patient; mislabeling or confusing the samples; misinterpreting Johnson's pathology sample; and failing to prevent cross-contamination.
The complaint alleges Nash performed an unnecessary gastrectomy; did the procedure without ensuring it was warranted; misdiagnosing Johnson with stomach cancer; mistreating Johnson during the Gottlieb admission; failing to properly assess her; failing to gather all the facts; failing to change his treatment plan in response to a follow-up biopsy; and failing to communicate well with other doctors caring for the plaintiff.
The suit alleges Sait failed to properly identify and label Johnson's biopsy; supervise nursing and hospital staff; communicate the results of the negative biopsy; order additional testing; advise Nash not to perform the gastrectomy; properly diagnose Johnson during her Gottlieb hospitalization; and treat her during her stay.
As a result, the suit says, Johnson underwent unnecessary surgery to remove her stomach, and sustained further complications, pain and suffering, medical expense and loss of a normal life.
Johnson seeks damages of more than $250,000, plus costs. She is is represented by attorney Michael W. Clancy, of St. Charles.
Cook County Circuit Court Case No.: 15-L-5988.