Doctor, hospital sued over stents

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

A Cleveland man who is suing his cardiologist and hospital over allegations a stent was unnecessarily implanted in his heart says the procedure was traumatic and expensive.

Anthony Barber, 53, filed suit in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas court Friday against Westlake cardiologist Harry Persaud and St. John Medical Center, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported Saturday.

The Associated Press left a message seeking comment on the suit at Persaud’s home Saturday. An answering service for his medical office declined to relay a message.

The lawsuit came days after the hospital sent Barber and 22 other patients letters saying their stents — devices used to open arteries to allow blood to flow — may have been inserted needlessly. Barber’s operation was Feb. 9.

After hospital staff questioned one doctor’s work earlier this year, St. John sought an independent review. An expert determined stents the doctor placed may have been medically unnecessary in 23 of 30 cases reviewed so far.