A severe spinal injury went misdiagnosed on a Calgary Remand Centre inmate who is now a paraplegic, a $5-million lawsuit claims.

James Bradley Self is now confined to a wheelchair because doctors at the detention centre and subsequent physicians didn't recognize a spinal abscess, his claim states.

"But for the negligence and breach of statutory duty of the defendants, this injury would not have resulted in paraplegia," his court action says.

Self's statement of claim, a copy of which was obtained yesterday by the Sun, says his illness first became apparent when he was on remand in November 2007.

"Self complained on several occasions of severe back pain, rib pain, lung pain and chest pain to staff of the Calgary Remand Centre," it says.

He was released on Dec. 22, and continued to seek medical care outside the institution, but his ailment wasn't diagnosed until it was too late.

Statements of defence disputing the unproven allegations in Self's lawsuit have not yet been filed.

In March 2003, the Alberta Court of Appeal upheld a robbery conviction against Self, who was identified by his victim by his "very evil eyes."

KEVIN.MARTIN@SUNMEDIA.CA