Story By: Jonathan Macias, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News

This man twisted his ankle on the street and doctors allegedly failed to detect a blood clot that resulted in him having to have his left leg amputated.

He is now suing the hospital for negligence.

According to local media, Francisco Verdejo twisted his ankle in the street in January 2019 and he went to the Hospital Regional Rancagua in the city of Rancagua in the central Chilean province of Cachapoal.

He was allegedly diagnosed with a sprained ankle and was released from hospital, however he continued to experience severe pain and on his third visit, doctors detected a thrombus in his left leg that resulted in the limb being amputated above the knee, according to reports.

Verdejo told local media: “The doctor insisted it was just a sprained ankle and that it did not need radiography, then a vascular surgeon who was passing the room realised I had a thrombus and I was sent to the operating theatre.”

He said that the amputation has seriously affected his life as he has a young daughter and cannot work.

He also said the incident has also affected his marriage because “it is not easy for a person to share their life with someone in my condition”.

Verdejo, his lawyer Alex Ruz and local health deputy Juan Luis Castro have filed a lawsuit against the hospital for negligence, according to reports.

Meanwhile, the hospital said in a statement that they will collaborate with local authorities to get to the bottom of the unfortunate incident.

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