Cancer Patient Becomes Double Amputee After Surgeon Allegedly Removes Wrong Leg

A cancer patient in Ohio is suing a hospital and its surgical team after undergoing the amputation of her left leg, which she alleges was the wrong limb, resulting in her becoming a double amputee. Sharon Jacks was scheduled for a below-the-knee amputation of her right leg on September 19, 2025, at Selby General Hospital in Marietta, Ohio.

According to a lawsuit filed by Jacks, she woke up after the surgery to discover her left leg had been amputated. Her attorney, Brad Layne, stated that the situation "defies explanation." Following the erroneous amputation, doctors subsequently had to remove the leg that was originally intended for the procedure, leaving Jacks without both legs.

Jacks filed the lawsuit on September 15 against her surgeon, members of the surgical team, and Selby General Hospital. The complaint alleges a "complete and total failure by multiple medical professionals" led to the incident. Layne further claimed that despite multiple opportunities to identify and correct the error, the surgical team did not realize they were operating on the wrong leg.

Medical records reviewed by Jacks' attorney reportedly show that the surgeon marked the correct leg prior to the operation, yet the incorrect limb was still removed. Layne noted that the mark remained on the correct leg even after the wrong one was amputated.

The lawsuit also states that the medical team conducted two "time-outs" before the surgery. These are standard safety procedures designed to confirm patient identity, the planned procedure, and the correct surgical site before any incision is made. "Every person in that operating room is responsible to make sure that that is verified before moving forward, and that includes the doctor, the staff, the nurses, the anesthesiologist, everybody that’s involved," Layne said.

Wrong-site surgery is considered a critical and preventable medical error, often categorized as a "never event" within the healthcare industry. Jacks' complaint includes nine counts, such as gross negligence, reckless conduct, and corporate negligence, seeking compensatory and punitive damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent impairment, and loss of enjoyment of life.

In response, Selby General Hospital confirmed that an "adverse surgical event" occurred in September 2025. A statement from the hospital indicated that an internal review found the event to be avoidable and that proper operating room procedures were not followed. The hospital stated that those involved were held accountable and are no longer employed there. The hospital also confirmed full cooperation with a review by the Ohio Department of Health, which reportedly affirmed the safety and effectiveness of their surgical protocols. The organization has implemented corrective measures to prevent future occurrences.