Additional Coverage:
- Woman has both legs amputated after surgeon ‘removes wrong limb’ in horrific blunder (irishstar.com)
A Ohio woman is pursuing legal action after a shocking surgical error left her without any legs. Sharon Jacks had scheduled a below-the-knee amputation on her cancer-affected right leg in September 2025 at Selby General Hospital. However, according to a detailed lawsuit filed by Jacks and her attorney Brad Layne, surgeons mistakenly removed her healthy left leg instead.
The 32-page lawsuit describes the incident as a “complete failure of basic patient safety procedures” and calls it a “never event” – a preventable medical mistake that should never occur. Layne sharply criticized the medical team, stating, “Wrong limb amputation should never happen.
There is simply no excuse. Complete and total failure by multiple medical professionals caused this catastrophe.”
Despite clear preoperative markings indicating the correct leg for surgery, the team failed to recognize their error throughout the procedure. The lawyer emphasized, “Several opportunities to identify the mistake and stop the procedure were missed.”
As a result of this grave oversight, Jacks faces lifelong consequences including severe physical injury, permanent disability, emotional distress, and significant medical expenses. The lawsuit alleges gross negligence and names multiple defendants, including Selby General Hospital, Marietta Memorial Hospital, and several healthcare providers.
In response, Selby General Hospital expressed sorrow over the incident and confirmed that their standard operating room protocols were not followed. The hospital also revealed that those involved in the surgery are no longer employed there but declined to share further information.
This case highlights the critical importance of stringent safety checks in medical procedures to prevent such devastating errors. Sharon Jacks now seeks justice as she copes with the profound impact of this tragic mistake.