Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1992. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
San Francisco Chronicle - Tuesday, December 1, 1992
Dante Paladorri, 53, accused the hospital of initiating AZT treatment when his symptoms persisted despite two negative tests for the HIV virus. The symptoms, it was later learned, were linked to hepatitis, according to his attorney, Paul Wotman of San Francisco.
Paladorri is seeking $1 million in compensation and unspecified emotional damages, Wotman said. The case was submitted 16 months ago for binding arbitration, the only recourse under contracts with the health maintenance organization. No hearing date has been set.
In another claim filed in October, John Kuivenhoven, 53, is seeking $2 million from Kaiser for failing to administer an HIV test and correct a false AIDS diagnosis.
In each case, the diagnoses hinged on the individual patient belonging to a high-risk group: Paladorri admitted longtime IV-drug use and Kuivenhoven is gay, said Wotman, who represents both men.
Kaiser, which denies wrongdoing in both cases, said that Paladorri's treatment was begun only after symptoms persisted and his T-cell count dropped below 500, generally the cutoff for AZT treatment.
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