Full Breakdown
Ohio Woman Sues Hospital After Wrong-Leg Amputation
By Drooid · · How we work
The Alleged Surgical Error
In September 2025, 74-year-old Sharon Jacks of Meigs County, Ohio, was scheduled for a below-the-knee amputation of her right leg to treat squamous cell carcinoma. According to the 32-page complaint filed in Washington County Court, the surgical team at Selby General Hospital in Marietta removed her left leg instead. Four months later, Jacks underwent the intended right-leg amputation at a different Ohio facility, leaving her a double amputee. The lawsuit names nine defendants—including Selby General Hospital, its affiliated health-care entities, and the operating surgeons—and alleges gross negligence, battery, reckless conduct, and corporate negligence.
Background & Context
Wrong-site surgery is classified in the health-care industry as a “never event,” one of the most serious preventable medical errors. Standard operating protocol requires a “surgical time-out” to verify the patient’s identity, the planned procedure, and the correct operative site before incision. The complaint states that two such time-outs were documented, yet the team proceeded on the incorrect limb.
Data & Statistics
- Patient: Sharon Jacks, 74, diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the right lower extremity.
- Defendants: Nine parties, including Selby General Hospital and associated medical groups.
- Time-outs documented: Two pre-operative checks.
- Procedures: Wrong-leg amputation in September 2025; correct-leg amputation performed four months later.
Official Statements & Responses
Selby General Hospital confirmed that an adverse surgical event occurred in September 2025. The institution also announced organization-wide corrective measures, including mandatory retraining of surgical staff.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The mark was still on the correct leg after the wrong leg had been taken off,” — Brad Layne, jacks’ attorney
- “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,” — Brad Layne, jacks’ attorney
- “It shouldn’t happen in any type of medicine. It shouldn’t happen anywhere. It shouldn’t happen in a veterinary setting, even,” — Brad Layne, jacks’ attorney
Why It Matters
The case underscores the critical role of intra-operative verification processes in preventing “never events.” Legal experts note that lawsuits of this nature can drive systemic changes, prompting hospitals to reinforce safety checklists and staff accountability. The incident also highlights the potential for severe, lifelong disability when such safeguards fail, raising broader concerns about patient-rights protections and the adequacy of existing oversight mechanisms.
What's Next
The complaint seeks both compensatory and punitive damages to cover past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent impairment, and loss of enjoyment of life. No trial date has been announced, and the parties have not disclosed any settlement negotiations.