A man has filed suit against his podiatrist, saying he had to get his toe amputated after the podiatrist continued to treat his calluses despite his complaints of pain.
William N. Buxton filed suit March 28 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Brian L. Martin, D.P.M. and Next Step Foot and Ankle Centers Inc.
According to the complaint, Buxton went to defendant Martin, who was a podiatrist at Next Step Foot and Ankle Centers, to treat the cellulitis on his right foot.
“During the course of the treatment, the plaintiff continuously complained that the right foot would not heal and was becoming increasingly sore and infected,” the suit states. “The defendant continued the same course of treatment, including the treatments rendered on April 11 and April 18, 2012.”
On April 27, 2012, Buxton went to the emergency room at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville. There, he was diagnosed with an infected right great toe and cellulitis of the right foot, an infected callus of the right fifth toe and infected ulcer of the right great toe, according to the complaint.
After receiving a clinical evaluation, Buxton was diagnosed with gangrene of the right foot. On May 2, 2012, his right toe was amputated at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, the suit states.
Due to the incidents, Buxton has sustained ongoing medical bills and has suffered disfigurement, the complaint says.
Buxton is seeking a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs. He will be represented by William L. Berry of William Berry and Associates in Collinsville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 14-L-246.