WILKES-BARRE – A Luzerne County physician has launched medical malpractice litigation against his podiatrist, claiming that the latter’s malpractice led to the amputation of his right leg.
Dr. Mario Adajar of Wyoming, Pa. filed suit in the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas on Jan. 31 versus Dr. Michael Baloga Jr. and Foot & Ankle Center WP of West Pittston and Wilkes-Barre Commonwealth Hospital (doing business as “Wilkes-Barre Commonwealth Hospital Wound Healing Center”) of Wilkes-Barre.
According to the suit, Adajar first sought treatment from Baloga in December 2020 for calluses to his feet and a chronic ulcer on the right foot. Baloga had also been made aware that Adajar had Type II diabetes, and was recently the recipient of a kidney transplant.
Adajar continued to receive treatment from Baloga over the next several months, including having the wound on his right foot debrided and cleaned. In June 2021, Baloga placed a total contact cast on Adajar’s leg at the wound center, the suit says.
The very next day, Adajar ran a fever of 102.3 degrees and felt “excruciating” pain around the cast, leading him to seek emergency treatment. Over the following days, Adajar says he went into septic shock and suffered both atrial fibrillation and acute hypoxic respiratory failure.
Adajar was then diagnosed with gram negative bacilli bacteria and his right leg suffered from severe infection and gas gangrene. Weeks later, on July 27, 2021, with never having regained full sensation in his limb, Adajar had his right leg amputated through the fibula and tibia.
“As a direct result of the negligence of defendants and each of them, jointly and severally, Adajar was placed in a total contact cast, which directly and proximately caused him to develop necrotizing fasciitis, go into septic shock, require multiple procedures, prolonged hospitalization and ultimately, amputation. The catastrophic, permanent injuries were caused by the negligent acts and omissions of defendants, their agents, servants and employees,” the suit states.
Despite the amputation of his leg, Adajar continues to practice medicine.
For multiple counts of negligence and corporate negligence, the plaintiff is seeking damages, jointly and severally, in excess of $50,000 and in excess of the prevailing arbitration limits, exclusive of pre- and post-judgment interest, and costs.
The plaintiff is represented by Derek R. Layser and Brett J. Kaminsky of Friedman Schuman, in Fort Washington.
The defendants have not yet secured legal counsel.
Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas case 2022-00775
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com