Belleville foot doctor sued

A Belleville podiatrist is being sued by a patient who claims he negligently performed foot surgery.

Seeking in excess of $50,000 in damages, Felicia A. Gilmore filed suit against Victor L. Horsley, DPM, on April 27 in St. Clair County Circuit.

According to the complaint, Gilmore sought treatment from Horsley in May 2005, for bunions on both feet. The first surgery, "adductor hallucis tenotomy, bunionectomy, first metatarsal osteotomy," was performed on her left foot on May 2. The same procedure for the first metatarsal osteotomy was performed on her right foot May 25.

"Plaintiff then complained to the doctor of a corn on the left second toe," the complaint states. "Dr. Horsley agreed to remove the corn on said toe on May 31, 2005, and instead did a flexor tenotomy without informing plaintiff of same."

Gilmore claims the procedure failed requiring her to have a surgery known as an extensor tenotomy for the second left toe on June 14, 2005.

The suit claims Horsley was negligent, among other things, for failing to use the proper procedure to treat her bunions on both feet, failing to inform Gilmore of the proper information for an informed consent prior to the surgeries and failing to remove the corn or treat the corn on the left second toe.

Gilmore is represented by Thomas O. Falb of Alton.