Millions of Americans suffer from the damaging effects of diabetes. Categorized as a disease in which the bodies of those impacted are unable to produce or metabolize insulin properly, many individuals with diabetes develop circulatory problems. In many cases individuals living with diabetes suffer skin ailments such as ulcers, calluses and infections which, if left untreated, can result in gangrene.

One man who was diagnosed as suffering from diabetes, renal disease and peripheral vascular disease; recently filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against his podiatrist. According to the lawsuit, the man visited the foot doctor to ensure his feet were free of ulcers and other injuries that could potentially pose a problem. Upon his visit, the doctor noted that the man's second toe displayed early signs of gangrene. However, despite noting the second toe was in poor physical shape, the doctor took no further medical action.

Roughly two weeks later, gangrene had set in and the doctor was forced to amputate the man's second toe. The amputation, however, did little to stop the gangrene from spreading and one week later the man was forced to undergo a more severe amputation procedure in which his leg was amputated below the knee.

According to the lawsuit, the doctor is negligent in failing to both diagnose the man's infection and proactively intervene. In the lawsuit, the man asserts that the doctor's initial failure to act when the first signs of pre-gangrene were noted resulted in the loss of his leg and foot.

The man is suing for an unspecified amount of compensation related to mental and physical pain and suffering, permanent disability and past and future medical expenses.

Source: The Southeast Texas Record, "Med-mal over gangrenous toe continued," David Yates, May 14, 2013