UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (CN) – A man developed fatal liver cancer after Kaiser doctors failed to treat his hepatitis-C, his widow claims in the Circuit Court of Prince George’s County.

Annette Simpson, individually and as personal representative of the Estate of William Simpson, deceased, sued Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, P.C. and Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. for medical negligence, wrongful death and lack of informed consent.

According to the lawsuit, William Simpson saw five Kaiser doctors between December 2014 and January 2018, at least three of whom knew about his diagnosis, 20 years prior, of viral hepatitis-C. Yet none of the doctors discussed with him any of the available treatments for hepatitis-C, nor the increased risk of liver cancer he faced by not treating it, according to the complaint.

Between January and July of 2015, Simpson had at least three injections which he believed were a treatment for his hepatitis-C, but were instead serial vaccinations for hepatitis-B, according to the complaint.

Simpson was diagnosed with liver cancer in Nov. 2017, which ultimately claimed his life in Jan. 2018, according to the complaint.

“At no time in 2014 or 2015 was Mr. Simpson evaluated, referred, studied or advised of his risk of developing cancer as a result of his viral hepatitis-C, nor was he advised that the medications his health care providers recommended and administered in 2015 were to vaccinate a different type of hepatitis, rather than treat the type that defendants were aware that he had,” the complaint states.

Annette Simpson seeks general damages, costs and a jury trial. She is represented by Catherine D. Bertram and Heather J. Kelly of Bertram Law Group in Washington, D.C.