PORTLAND, Ore. (CN) - A patient tested positive for Hepatitis C, but Kaiser did not tell him about it for 14 years, leading to liver cancer, he claims in a $2.8 million lawsuit filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court.

On Oct. 29, 2001, Michael Smith underwent Hepatitis C testing ordered by nurse practitioner Craig Shultz after complaining of generalized abdominal pain.

The test came back positive, but Kaiser staff didn’t bother to tell him about it until Feb. 20, 2015, according to Smith who says the lack of treatment allowed the disease to development into stage 3 fibrosis of the liver.

“As a result of the delay in diagnoses and recent treatment, plaintiff has developed liver cancer and further treatment is unlikely to be successful.”

“Defendants’ negligence increased the risk of harm to plaintiff by reducing his chance of survival and life expectancy. [He] will require extensive medical care in the future and … has sustained physical and emotional pain and suffering. [His] injuries are permanent and permanently disabling.”

Michael and wife Brittany sued Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest and Kaiser Permanente for medical negligence. They seek a total of $2.8 million in damages.

Michael and Brittany are represented by Jon Zbinden of Zbinden & Curtis, in Portland.