Injuries To Feet Caused By Medical Malpractice

Podiatrists are highly skilled and highly trained medical professionals.  They specialize in treating patients who have lower leg and foot problems.  And our experienced medical malpractice attorneys know that podiatrists are medical professionals who can be held accountable for committing medical malpractice.

The distinction between ordinary negligence and negligence in the form of medical malpractice is very important.  Mostly because the statute of limitations is shorter for medical malpractice cases and the proper ways in which the plaintiff must prove his or her claim is different in medical malpractice litigation.

So where do podiatrists go wrong?  Usually it is by failing to diagnose the foot patient; misdiagnosing the patient’s food problem; or by negligently performing a procedure or other such affirmative act.  Obviously, an undiagnosed foot patient continues to live in pain and the problem can get worse.  The same goes for a misdiagnosed patient.

What foot problems have podiatrists been known to misdiagnose, fail to diagnose, or otherwise improperly treat the patient?  The following is a list of common mistreated ailments:

• Gout
• Flat feet
• Foot ulcers
• Foot deformities
• Bunions
• Arthritis
• Plantar faciatis
• Achilles tendonitis
• Feel fissuring
• Haglund’s deformity

This is just a simple list and there are many other ways a podiatrist can commit medical malpractice.  Unfortunately for foot patients, their medical problems affect a critical region of the body.  Moreover, foot pain can be extremely severe.

At the very least, a patient will be experiencing pain.  This will vary in degree, but in the worst cases the patient may not be able to walk without having extreme pain.  The patient may even need pain medication to control suffering.  Depending on work requirements, the patient may not be able to report for duty.  Obviously time from work will be missed for medical appointments; appointments that would not be necessary had the podiatrist done his or her job properly.  But the foot problem can be so severe that the patient will not be able to go to work at all until the condition is cured or at least under reasonable control.

Some conditions are so painful that it matters little if a person has a desk job because the pain gets in the way of one’s ability to focus.  Of course if a patient is on their feet a lot at work, time will be taken from the job.  Consider how tragic this would be if the patient is a construction worker suffering foot problems during the construction season.

The bottom line is that misdiagnosed foot problems, undiagnosed podiatric needs, and negligently performed procedures will cause a foot patient to pay more medical costs, miss work, and suffer in pain needlessly.

But what do you think?  I would love to hear from you!  Leave a comment or I also welcome your phone call on my toll-free cell at 1-866-889-6882 or you can drop me an e-mail at jfisher@fishermalpracticelaw.com.  You are always welcome to request my FREE book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, at the home page of my website at www.protectingpatientrights.com.