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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RECORD

Friday, March 29, 2024

Physicians on board Princess Cruise Lines allegedly misdiagnosed passenger

Cruise 06

LOS ANGELES — A former passenger with liver cancer has filed suit against a cruise ship and its medical staff for alleged negligence after he claims he impaled his foot on an object in the ship's pool and a piece of the object was left in his foot after it was sutured on board. 

Dennis M. McCarthy filed a complaint Sept. 19 in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against Princess Cruise Lines Ltd., Minette Botes, M.D., and Van Tonder, M.D., alleging that they failed to carry competent medical professional on board.

According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on Sept. 18, 2015, while aboard the defendant's vessel as a fare paying passenger, he stepped onto a sharp object at the bottom of the pool. He sought emergency care at the ship’s medical center; however, because he claimed he was inadequately diagnosed, it led to significant swelling and redness. After returning home, the plaintiff was hospitalized and treated for a severe foot infection and was required to undergo surgery to remove the foreign object that remained deeply embedded that purportedly was overlooked by the defendants, which caused the plaintiff to suffer damages from medical expenses and further delayed his scheduled liver surgery. 

The plaintiff holds Princess Cruise Lines Ltd., Minette Botes, M.D., and Van Tonder, M.D.  responsible because the defendants allegedly failed to properly treat the plaintiff, failed to properly inspect and maintain the pool, and failed to hire competent and properly qualified doctors.

The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks damages against the defendants, medical expenses, interest, costs of suit and other relief as the court may deem proper. He is represented by Aksana M. Coone of Law Offices of Aksana M. Coone in Los Angeles.

U.S. District Court for the Central District of California case number 2:16-cv-07020

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