Widow Files Lawsuit Over Alleged Failed Diagnosis
By Daniel Hawn
Published on December 31, 2005
A woman in Pittsfield, Massachusetts recently filed a lawsuit against her late husband's doctor who she accuses of failing to discover the cancer that ultimately lead to her husband's death.
Patricia Sanginetti filed the medical malpractice lawsuit in Berkshire Superior Court against Dr. Harry Hartford of Richmond. The suit claims that Hartford was the primary care physician of Francis D. Sanginetti from 1991 to 2004. For several years, Sanginetti suffered from severe heartburn known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, said Chris S. Dodig, Patricia Sanginetti's attorney.
In spite of Sanginetti's symptoms, however, Hartford never ordered an endoscopy or other tests to detect possible serious conditions, Dodig said.
During a vacation in Florida, Sanginetti experienced difficulty and discomfort swallowing and was instructed by doctors there to undergo testing in Massachusetts, Dodig said.
In March 2004 he underwent a biopsy and was found out to be in the late stages of esophageal cancer, Dodig stated. Sanginetti died six months later.
The wrongful death lawsuit alleges that Hartford was negligent in not recognizing Hartford's condition and providing the appropriate care.
Attempts to reach Hartford for comment were unsuccessful.
Keyword Tags: