Widower accuses Women's Health Specialists, doctors of failing to diagnose and treat wife's ovarian cancer

A man is suing over claims his late wife's doctors failed to timely diagnose and properly treat a tumor he alleges was only discovered to be malignant when she gave birth to their twins.

Jesse Perez, as special administrator of the Estate of Marilyn Medina Perez, filed a wrongful death lawsuit Oct. 21 in Cook County Circuit Court against Dr. Brad Epstein, Dr. Christopher Michael and Suburban Women's Health Specialists (SWHS).

According to the complaint, Marilyn Medina Perez went to the emergency room at St. Alexius Medical Center with pelvic pain radiating down her leg on Aug. 11, 2012, when the attending physician recommended surgery after a CT scan revealed a teratoma, or tumor.

The emergency room doctor, the suit states, spoke on the phone to Epstein, of SWHS, who allegedly said surgery was unnecessary, leading Marilyn to be discharged. She called SWHS the next day and the day after complaining of continued pain and noting the emergency room doctor's surgery recommendation, but Perez claims that Michael, also of SWHS, did not recommend surgery during an Aug. 16, 2012 appointment.

Marilyn's subsequent pregnancy, according to the complaint, was complicated by severe abdominal pain, and in March 2013, she underwent an appendectomy that was later determined was unnecessary. The suit states Marilyn returned to the hospital a week later and again in May, when Michael again allegedly did not recommend surgery.

The last time Marilyn went to the hospital, Perez contends that she remained there for more than a month and gave birth to twin boys on June 21, 2013. It was at that time, the suit alleges, it was discovered the tumor had undergone malignant transformation and squamous cell carcinoma was found through her abdomen.

Marilyn died of ovarian carcinoma Jan. 14, according to the complaint. Perez is seeking more than $50,000 in damages, plus costs, and is represented by Highland Park attorney Brian J. Lewis of Baizer Kolar & Lewis.

Cook County Circuit Court case number: 2014L010905.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt and it represents only one side of the story.