WARREN Niles man sues doctor, clinic, citing unneeded chemotherapy

WARREN -- A Niles man has filed a lawsuit against a local doctor and St. Joseph's Cancer Care Center stating that he was treated for cancer, which he did not have.
Atty. Sarah Kovoor filed the lawsuit Tuesday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court on behalf of Curtis C. Barclay and his wife, Beverly, of S. Cleveland Street, Niles. The suit is asking for monetary damages in excess of $25,000.
Dr. Antone E. Chahine and the cancer care center are the defendants.
Neither Dr. Chahine nor officials at the care center could be reached to comment.
What is alleged: According to the suit, Barclay had been treated for cancer in December 2000. In February 2001, Barclay was told that he no longer showed evidence of cancer, the suit states.
In June 2001, Barclay's neck became swollen and he consulted Dr. Chahine, the suit states.
Dr. Chahine performed some tests but did not perform a biopsy, the suit states. The doctor, however, told Barclay the cancer had returned and ordered him to undergo chemotherapy for three months, the suit notes.
"Contrary to Chahine's diagnosis in June 2001, Mr. Barclay had not experienced any recurrence of his cancer, which remained in remission," the suit states. "Chahine's unnecessary administration to Mr. Barclay of dangerous chemotherapy drugs damaged Mr. Barclay's throat and larynx, necessitated Mr. Barclay's undergoing medical and surgical treatments such as a tracheotomy and damaged Mr. Barclay's ability to swallow or to eat normally."