US doctors amputate healthy leg of 74-year-old cancer patient
A routine medical procedure in Ohio resulted in a life-altering tragedy. A 74-year-old woman lost her healthy limb due to a surgical blunder. As a result, she now faces life without both legs.
Sharon Jacks was seeking treatment for skin cancer affecting her right leg. Medical specialists identified aggressive squamous cell carcinoma. She was admitted to Selby General Hospital in September 2025. Her medical team scheduled a below-the-knee amputation to prevent tumor spread.
Standard operating protocols were reportedly completed before the operation began. The attending surgeon placed a physical mark on the infected limb. The medical staff also performed two mandatory safety timeouts. These pauses are meant to verify the patient and target body area. This was reported by LADBible.
Despite these critical steps, the surgical unit made a catastrophic mistake. They prepped the uninjured left limb for surgery. Staff placed a tourniquet on it and severed the healthy leg.
Jacks regained consciousness after anesthesia only to discover the horrific error. Surgeons had amputated her healthy leg. Her attorney emphasized a key detail. The physical mark on her cancerous right leg remained visible after surgery.
VIDEO. Ohio woman sues after surgeons allegedly amputate the wrong leg. YouTube channel WKYC Channel 3.
The original tumor remained untouched in her body. Consequently, Jacks required another surgical intervention four months later. Doctors at a different medical facility successfully removed her right leg as originally needed.
This second operation left her permanently wheelchair-bound. A single planned procedure ended up costing her both limbs.
Jacks is now taking legal action against Selby General Hospital and the attending medical staff. Her lawsuit claims damages for severe emotional distress, permanent disability, and ongoing medical costs.
Hospital management acknowledged that an adverse incident occurred in September 2025. An internal inquiry confirmed a failure to follow standard surgical guidelines. Representatives stated that responsible staff members no longer work at the facility. Updated safety procedures have since been introduced.
Wrong-site operations represent one of the most severe preventable medical errors. This case stands out because multiple verification layers completely failed. The pending legal case seeks to uncover how established safeguards were so easily bypassed.
We also previously reported that a remarkable medical incident occurred in China that should never have happened. A local man survived more than 40 hours of cardiac arrest thanks to doctors using cutting-edge ECMO technology.
