Injured While in a Hospital for Surgery...

by Vashiona
(Bronx, NY USA)

I had mitral valve heart surgery and upon recovery I noticed pain in my right heel. I showed it to my nurse who explained it may be from not being able to put lotion on it. It was pretty hard and crusty. The pain was annoying but I felt they were the professionals so I left it alone. I was discharged on 8/30/11.

Today, after showering I noticed a crack down the side of my heel. When I looked a bit closer, I realized the layers of my heel were peeled and very hard. It looks like something ate into my heel. What should I do? It hurts when I walk on it. Isn't the hospital responsible for this injury?

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ANSWER for "Injured While in a Hospital for Surgery...":

Vashiona (Bronx, NY USA):

Make an appointment with your doctor. Have her take a look at your heel. She may send you to a Podiatrist or Dermatologist, or she may be able to diagnose the problem herself.

If the problem can be remedied without surgery and through additional medications only, there isn’t really a case against the hospital or the doctors.

If, on the other hand, the injury turns out to be something more serious, then you will have to have a doctor link the injury to what may or may not have happened at the hospital.

We did some research of New York State cases and weren’t able to locate any which associated mitral heart surgery with infections of the foot.

Let’s hope your doctor can treat the problem locally and that it will resolve itself in a short time, and without the need for further surgery or the intervention of the legal process.

Since laws change frequently and across jurisdictions you should get a personalized case evaluation from an attorney licensed in your state (if you haven't already). Find an experienced local attorney to give you a FREE personalized case review here.


Best of luck,

Law Guy