Podiatrist holding foot

Can I Sue for an Infection Post-Foot Surgery?

Post-foot surgery infections may be related to poor podiatric care. If this can be proved, the patient can pursue a claim of podiatry malpractice and collect meaningful compensation. Even so, it takes a skilled attorney to make the case. If you have experienced a serious infection after foot surgery that you believe resulted from the negligence of your podiatrist, contacting New York attorney Lawrence M. Karam, P.C. is a smart move. 

Not only does Larry Karam have decades of experience litigating claims of podiatry malpractice, he has a track record of successful outcomes. His background and well-honed skills give you a distinct advantage when it comes to obtaining meaningful compensation. Contact him now to discuss your options. Our office will charge you no attorneys’ fees until we recover damages.

How Post-Foot Surgery Infections Are Prevented

Because podiatric surgery is invasive, steps must be taken to prevent germs from entering the body cavity. Because anesthesia is administered, patients must be carefully monitored during and after the operation. 

When professional protocols are followed, steps are taken by both the foot surgeon and the hospital before, during, and after the operation to prevent infections. These measures keep all personnel, equipment, and the surrounding environment sterile and safe and include:

  • Surgical scrubbing by the surgeon and any assistants
  • Sterilization of all surgical equipment and tools at the site
  • Regular inspections of ventilation, heating, and air-conditioning units in use
  • Administration of presurgical antibiotics if necessary

If proper care is not taken to ensure sterile conditions, and the patient develops a postsurgical infection, it may be possible to bring a successful claim of podiatry malpractice against the doctor, the hospital, or both parties.

Still, it is important to remember that a patient may develop a postsurgical infection due to exposure outside the surgical setting in which case medical personnel or entities are not liable. In any case, podiatric malpractice is difficult to prove. That’s why it’s crucial to have a strong podiatry malpractice lawyer on your side.

Possible Causes of Post-Foot Surgery Infections

Because stringent protocol typically prevents or immediately treats postsurgical infections, if an infection occurs and/or is not promptly diagnosed and treated, the level of podiatric care is likely to be questioned. The following may have precipitated the infection or made it worse:

  • A foreign object, such as a surgical sponge, left in the body
  • Incisions weren’t  properly closed
  • Mistakes made during surgery made the patient more vulnerable to disease
  • Failure to monitor the patient during and after foot surgery allowed an infection to develop and worsen, possibly even leading to sepsis (a systemic infection of the blood) 
  • Improper administration of anesthesia increased the risk of respiratory infection by weakening the patient’s ability to breathe 

It should be remembered that post-foot surgery infections can result not only in pain, fever, and chills, but left untreated can even lead to wrongful death. If you have lost a loved one in such an awful way, we will fight hard for substantial damages and justice for your family.

Proving Podiatric Malpractice in Cases of Post-Foot Surgery Infection

To prove podiatric malpractice several facts must be established:

  • That a patient-doctor relationship existed
  • That the podiatrist or hospital breached the duty of care owed to the patient
  • That this breach caused the patient’s postsurgical infection or allowed it to worsen
  • That the postsurgical infection resulted in real damages

How a Sharp Podiatry Malpractice Attorney Will Help 

It takes a savvy podiatry malpractice lawyer to win a case, one who knows the ins and outs of New York State law and the details of podiatric protocol. Once you become our client, Larry Karam will:

  • Investigate your case
  • Review all medical records
  • Interview involved parties and witnesses
  • Consult with experts in related fields (e.g. podiatry, infectious disease, bacteriology) who will testify on your behalf.

He knows precisely which evidence is necessary to prove malpractice by showing that your doctor did not live up to the standards a reasonable and normally skilled podiatrist would have provided under similar circumstances. By the same token, if the hospital is at fault, he will work vigorously to prove that the facility did not adhere to accepted standards and therefore was negligent in providing proper healthcare.

Contact Our Experienced Podiatry Malpractice Attorney Now

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious post-foot surgery infection, we will determine whether your podiatrist or hospital bears responsibility. If so, Larry Karam will fight aggressively to win you damages for medical costs, lost income, physical pain, and emotional distress. Contact The Law Firm of Lawrence M. Karam today to protect your rights and your future.

About the Author
Of all the different areas in medical malpractice, it is podiatry malpractice that has had a particular interest to me. With 42 years practicing law and representing hundreds of victims of malpractice, I have created a law practice in which my clients are comfortable knowing that their case is being handled with my personal attention, in the most professional manner, and without unreasonable delays.