ST. CROIX — A St. Croix woman recently filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against a podiatrist at Plessen Medical Group LLC, alleging negligent surgical treatment that deformed her right foot as well as prolonged denial of access to essential medical records she needed to obtain a second opinion, according to the lawsuit.
Delphine De Castro, in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Superior Court by attorney Eugenio Géigel-Simounet, claims her bunion surgery — performed on January 21, 2022 by Dr. John Cook — resulted in permanent injury, ongoing pain, and misalignment and dislocation of her toes that has resulted in her inability to wear shoes or walk without assistance.
The surgery followed a diagnosis of acquired hallux limitus and hallux valgus, common deformities of the foot affecting the big toe joint.
However, De Castro claims that post-operative complications began immediately. She alleges she experienced swelling, irritation, and pain shortly after the procedure. Despite multiple follow-up visits with Cook throughout early 2022, her condition did not improve.
By mid-2022, De Castro sought a second opinion from Dr. Regina Flippin (spelled “Flipin” in the lawsuit), who informed her she could not properly assess the case without access to her prior medical records and diagnostic tests. De Castro alleges that, despite numerous requests, both Cook and the staff at Plessen Medical Group repeatedly denied or delayed access to her full medical file — including diagnostic imaging.
It wasn’t until July 9, 2024, over two years after the surgery, that she finally obtained the complete records and brought them to Flippin, the lawsuit states. After reviewing them, Flippin concluded that the initial surgery had been improperly performed, resulting in a misalignment and dislocation of De Castro’s toes.
Plessen Healthcare welcomed Cook to its team in a July 20, 2021 post on its Facebook page.
The Facebook post described Cook as being board-certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery, and specializing in heel and ankle pain, tendonitis, sports-related injuries, Lapiplasty 3D Bunion Correction, wound care, stem cell grafts, amputation prevention, and advanced diabetic ulcer care. Plessen announced that Cook would see patients at the Plessen Urgent Care & Specialty Clinic in the Sunny Isle Shopping Center, in addition to providing surgical care at the Plessen Ambulatory Surgical Center in Estate Orange Grove, specializing in reconstructive foot surgery and diabetic limb salvage.
In addition to Cook, Plessen Medical Group and the Virgin Islands government — which provides licenses to physicians and regulates the practice of medicine — are named as defendants. The lawsuit brings three main causes of action — medical malpractice against Cook and Plessen Medical Group, negligence by the government for licensing Cook and failing in its regulatory duties, and damages. De Castro is seeking compensation for permanent injury, disfigurement, emotional distress, loss of mobility, medical expenses, and diminished quality of life.
