The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Business

December 18, 2007

Sharon Regional patient files malpractice suit

By Matt Snyder

SHARON — A malpractice complaint has been filed against Dr. Sheng-Chi Wang and the hospital of Sharon Regional Health System for allegedly misdiagnosing a cancer in 2004.

Brought by the patient, Linda Haun, and her husband, Ronald Haun Sr., the complaint alleges that Wang diagnosed a non-Hodgkins lymphoma as a Hodgkins lymphoma.

The complaint said that misdiagnosis led to Mrs. Haun being left untreated for her non-Hodgkins cancer for three years. The Hauns are seeking a jury trial and more than $50,000.

David Johnson, a lawyer for Sharon Regional, said Tuesday that pathology can be complicated and it’s not about flipping a coin and arriving at either “heads or tails.”

He said the hospital sympathizes with Mrs. Haun, who has suffered from various cancers and reacted badly to chemotherapies in the past. However, he said Mrs. Haun would have had one form of chemotherapy or another whether the diagnosis was for a Hodgkins or a non-Hodgkins disease.

He added that while the diseases call for different treatments, the chemotherapies are similar and Mrs. Haun went into remission after being treated. “It obviously had a beneficial effect to her.” He said she has more recently relapsed.

The complaint also alleges that Dr. Jeffrey F. Gryn of Sharon Regional told her that a correct diagnosis and treatment in 2004 would have meant an 85 percent chance of being cured.

Also alleged in the complaint is that spokesmen on behalf of Sharon Regional told the Hauns that the 2004 pathology had been misread by Wang.

Johnson, the hospital’s attorney, said some statements the hospital made were taken out of context by the family. He added that the trial is where the facts will come out. “Everything isn’t going to be quite like it’s alleged in the complaint,” he said.

The Hauns are being represented by Kenneth M. Rothweiler and Daniel Jeck of Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Winkler, Eisenberg & Jeck, Philadelphia. Wang retired from Sharon Regional in 2006, according to the complaint.

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