Ohio woman sues hospital after wrong leg amputated during surgery

<p>An Ohio woman is suing after her surgeon allegedly amputated the wrong leg during a below-the-knee amputation that was required due to cancer in her right leg. Sharon Jacks, who is now a double amputee, was scheduled for the procedure at Selby General Hospital in Marietta, Ohio, on September 19, 2025, but she woke up to find her left leg missing, according to the lawsuit, as reported by WBNS.</p><p>"She went into surgery, and when she woke up, the wrong leg had been taken off," Jacks’ attorney Brad Layne told the outlet. "It defies explanation, obviously." The leg that was originally supposed to be amputated was later removed as well, leaving her without either leg.</p><p>Jacks' lawsuit names the hospital, her surgeon, and other members of the surgical team, accusing them of a "complete failure of basic safety procedures." Layne stated that "there is simply no excuse" for what happened, adding that "complete and total failure by multiple medical professionals caused this catastrophe." He emphasized that the surgical team failed to identify the mistake despite several opportunities to do so.</p><p>According to Jacks' attorney, medical records indicate that the surgeon initially marked the correct leg, but the wrong leg was still amputated. "The mark was still on the correct leg after the wrong leg had been taken off," Layne said.</p><p>The complaint notes that the medical team had two surgical "time-outs" before the procedure, which are conducted to confirm the patient's identity, the planned operation, and the correct surgical location before an incision is made. "Every person in that operating room is responsible to make sure that is verified before moving forward, and that includes the doctor, the staff, the nurses, the anesthesiologist, everybody that’s involved," Layne stated.</p><p>The records indicate that these verifications occurred twice, yet Jacks is missing a leg that should not have been removed. Surgery on the wrong site is considered one of the most serious preventable medical errors and is often referred to as a "never event," according to the lawsuit.</p><p>"It shouldn’t happen in any type of medicine. It shouldn’t happen anywhere. It shouldn’t happen in a veterinary setting, even," Layne added. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for Jacks to cover previous and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent impairment, and loss of enjoyment of life.</p><p>Selby General Hospital confirmed that an "adverse surgical event" occurred in September 2025, stating that the surgical team "responded immediately to address the medical needs of the patient involved and provide support to their family." The hospital acknowledged that this was an avoidable event and that expected operating room procedures were not followed. Those involved were held accountable for their actions and are no longer in their positions.</p><p>The hospital also stated that it has fully cooperated with a review by the Ohio Department of Health, which confirmed that its surgical protocols are "safe and effective" and that corrective measures have been implemented to prevent a recurrence of such an incident. "We are saddened by what occurred, and our team continues to keep this patient and their family in our prayers," the statement reads.</p>