Sunday, September 15, 1996

Man sues lab over wrong HIV diagosis

By Associated Press

DALLAS (AP) - A man mistakenly diagnosed in 1990 with the virus that causes AIDS has sued a medical testing laboratory for negligence, asking for more than $50,000 in damages.

Raymond Williams, now 37, learned last year that he is not infected with human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. He sued AMLaboratories, which also was known as Swiss Avenue Diagnostic Labs and Nichols Institute and is now owned by Corning Clinical Labs Inc.

Al Reynolds, spokesman for the Teterboro, N.J.-based company, said the company and its lawyers have not seen the lawsuit and cannot comment on the allegations.

Williams' lawyer, Brice Cottongame of Fort Worth, said his client has been devastated by the misdiagnosis and subsequent treatment.

"It's not like getting a diagnosis of cancer, where everyone gathers around you," he said. "It's like getting a diagnosis of leprosy.

"Imagine yourself living under that death sentence."

Williams filed the suit last week in federal court in Dallas.

Williams, who worked at a medical testing laboratory worker initially was tested for HIV in July 1990. His blood, sent to the same laboratory, apparently was mislabeled there, and the lab reported that he was HIV-positive, according to the lawsuit.

Cottongame said that Williams' primary physician had ordered the test at his request and believed her patient had AIDS. Although Williams did not show any symptoms of the disease, he began having his blood drawn regularly for lymphocyte tests.

In April 1994, Williams began treatment with an AIDS specialist, who prescribed the drug AZT. Side effects include nausea, vomiting and cramps, the lawsuit says.

In November 1995, Williams' AIDS specialist recommended that he be retested because he showed no AIDS symptoms. Two tests then showed he was HIV-negative, the suit says.

Cottongame said Williams has developed a nerve disorder from taking AZT, which has numerous unpleasant side effects, and he has trouble walking.

Williams lives with his mother in Rowlett and is drawing Social Security benefits for AIDS, his lawyer said.