An Ohio woman has filed a lawsuit alleging that surgeons amputated the wrong leg during a below-the-knee procedure intended to treat cancer in her right leg.
Sharon Jacks, who is now a double amputee, was scheduled for surgery on her right leg at Selby General Hospital in Marietta on Sept. 19, 2025. Instead, she awoke to find that her left leg had been removed, according to the lawsuit reported by WBNS.
“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 right leg, which was the intended site of the operation, was later amputated as well, leaving Jacks without either leg.
Sharon Jacks was scheduled for a below-the-knee amputation of her right leg at Selby General Hospital, but she awoke to discover that her left leg had been removed. (Google Maps)
The lawsuit names Selby General Hospital, the surgeon and other members of the operating team. It accuses them of “a complete failure of basic safety procedures.”
In a press release, Layne said “there is simply no excuse” for the error, describing it as a “complete and total failure by multiple medical professionals” that caused what he called a catastrophe.
“Despite several opportunities to identify the mistake and stop the procedure, the surgical team somehow never noticed they were operating on the wrong leg,” Layne said. “Now every day for the rest of her life, Sharon Jacks must live with the consequences of those failures.”
Layne said the medical records he reviewed show that the surgeon initially marked the correct leg, yet the team still amputated the other one.
“The mark was still on the correct leg after the wrong leg had been taken off,” Layne said.
The complaint says the team conducted two surgical “time-outs” before the operation. Such checks are intended to confirm the patient’s identity, the planned procedure and the correct surgical site before an incision is made.
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The lawsuit names the hospital, the surgeon and other members of the surgical team, alleging “a complete failure of basic safety procedures.” (iStock)
“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,” he added.
The lawsuit describes wrong-site surgery as one of the most serious preventable medical errors. In healthcare, such incidents are commonly classified as “never events” because they are not expected to occur.
“It shouldn’t happen in any type of medicine. It shouldn’t happen anywhere. It shouldn’t happen in a veterinary setting, even,” Layne said.
Jacks is seeking compensatory and punitive damages for past and future medical costs, pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent impairment and the loss of enjoyment of life.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for Sharon Jacks, including compensation for past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent impairment and loss of enjoyment of life. (Getty Images)
Selby General Hospital confirmed that an “adverse surgical event” occurred in September 2025. The hospital said 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 said its review determined that the incident was avoidable and that required operating-room procedures had not been followed. The hospital added that those involved were held accountable and are no longer employed in their positions.
The hospital said it has fully cooperated with a review by the Ohio Department of Health, saying the review confirmed its surgical protocols are “safe and effective” and that its clinical and leadership teams “have implemented corrective measures across our organization to prevent a situation like this from recurring.
“We are saddened by what occurred, and our team continues to keep this patient and their family in our prayers,” the statement reads.