Ohio Woman Sues Hospital After Surgeon Allegedly Amputates Wrong Leg

An Ohio woman who was diagnosed with cancer has filed a lawsuit against Selby General Hospital and its surgical team, alleging that a surgeon amputated her left leg instead of her right leg, as was planned.

Sharon Jacks was scheduled for a below-the-knee amputation of her right leg on September 19, 2025, due to cancer. However, she awoke after the surgery to find her left leg had been removed. According to the lawsuit, the right leg, which was supposed to be amputated, was later removed as well, leaving Jacks without either leg.

"She went into surgery, and when she woke up, the wrong leg had been taken off," Jacks’ attorney, Brad Layne, told WBNS. "It defies explanation, obviously."

The lawsuit accuses the hospital, the surgeon, and other members of the surgical team of a "complete failure of basic safety procedures." Layne stated that there is "simply no excuse" for the incident and that the "complete and total failure by multiple medical professionals caused this catastrophe."

According to Jacks' attorney, medical records indicate that the surgeon initially marked the correct leg for amputation. Despite this, the wrong leg was amputated. The lawsuit notes that the surgical team conducted two "time-outs" before the procedure, a standard safety measure to confirm patient identity, the planned operation, and the correct surgical site before making an incision.

"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. "The records say that happened twice, but somehow Ms. Jacks is missing a leg that should have not been removed."

Surgery on the wrong site is considered a serious preventable medical error, often termed a "never event" in the healthcare industry. Layne emphasized that such errors should not occur in any medical context.

Selby General Hospital acknowledged that an "adverse surgical event" occurred in September 2025. The hospital stated that the surgical team "responded immediately to address the medical needs of the patient involved and provide support to their family." In a statement to WBNS, the hospital confirmed that a review found the event to be avoidable and that "expected operating room procedures were not followed."

Those involved have been held accountable and are no longer employed by the hospital. Selby General Hospital has fully cooperated with a review by the Ohio Department of Health. The hospital stated that the review confirmed its surgical protocols are "safe and effective" and that corrective measures have been implemented to prevent recurrence.

The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for Jacks to cover medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent impairment, and loss of enjoyment of life.