Suit filed against doctors, hospital

Upstate Carolina Medical Center, two doctors and one of the hospital's corporate parents, Health Management Associates Inc., were sued Monday in Cherokee County Court of Common Pleas.

The suit claims a lack of a timely diagnosis and medical treatment that might have saved a teen's testicle.

The lawsuit alleges the teenager went to the Gaffney hospital on Jan. 12, 2007, with severe pain in his groin. After examination and several tests, the lawsuit alleges the teen was given ibuprofen and a prescription for other medications and discharged. At the time, the teen complained his pain level was about "eight on a scale of one-toten."

As a result of increasing pain levels and swelling, the teen was taken back to the hospital Jan. 18, 2007, and additional tests were performed. Gangrene was found during an exploratory surgery and the teen lost one of his testicles.

The suit claims the doctors who initially examined the teen were negligent in failing to perform tests for testicular torsion, which was the ultimate cause of the gangrene, even though they initially identified it among four possible causes for his pain during the Jan. 12 hospital visit.

Attorney W. Jones Andrews Jr. of Columbia is representing the teen in the lawsuit.

— Tim Gulla