An Illinois man claims a misdiagnosed infection in his foot led to the amputation of his left leg below the knee.
Kevin Pinkerton filed the lawsuit on Nov. 3 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Dr. Wallace Abel and Belleville Family Medical Associates, alleging negligence.
According to the complaint, on Feb. 3, Pinkerton went to the medical center for care and treatment of left foot pain and swelling, and Abel attended to him. The lawsuit states the physician did not perform an adequate physical examination, which led to a misdiagnosis of gout and a stress fracture when the plaintiff actually had an infection in his left foot.
That misdiagnosis resulted in the plaintiff's leg amputation, which led to pain and disfigurement, lost past and future wages, medical bills and related expenses, the suit states.
Pinkerton seeks damages of more than $75,000 from both defendants, plus court costs and attorney fees.
He is represented by attorney Samantha S. Unsell of Keefe & Keefe of Belleville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 15-L-629.