Patient Sued Hospital After Wrong-Leg Amputation
A Marietta patient filed a lawsuit after surgeons mistakenly amputated her healthy leg in September 2025.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Accidents
Sharon Jacks filed a lawsuit against Selby General Hospital following a 2025 surgery where her wrong leg was amputated. Despite two pre-surgical time-outs, the surgical team failed to correctly identify the limb intended for removal.
Why it matters
The case highlights a critical failure in medical safety protocols, as the patient was ultimately forced to undergo a second amputation to remove her cancer-afflicted leg. The incident has resulted in the termination of the involved surgical staff.
The Ohio Department of Health conducted a review of the adverse surgical event occurring on September 19, 2025. All staff members involved in the procedure are no longer employed by the hospital.
The players
Sharon Jacks
Sharon Jacks is the patient who filed a lawsuit against her surgical team and hospital after a medical error left her a double amputee.
Selby General Hospital
Selby General Hospital is the Marietta-based medical facility where the surgical error occurred.
Ohio Department of Health
The Ohio Department of Health is the state regulatory body that conducted a formal review of the surgical incident.
The details
Although the surgeon had marked the correct leg prior to the operation, the team proceeded to remove the wrong limb. The hospital acknowledged that established operating room procedures were not followed during the procedure.
Timeline
September 19, 2025: The amputation surgery was performed on Sharon Jacks.
Legal Context
This case follows a documented history of wrong-site surgery cases that have prompted the implementation of universal safety protocols in operating rooms nationwide. It highlights the continued vulnerability of patient safety systems despite the existence of these established standards.
This case may lead to heightened local scrutiny of hospital safety practices and stricter verification requirements for surgical procedures at area facilities. Residents and patients are encouraged to confirm that medical providers have marked the correct surgical site prior to any procedure.
The takeaway
Patients should always proactively verify their surgical site with their medical team before being sedated. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of the universal time-out procedure in preventing irreversible medical errors.
Further reading
For more information on regional safety reporting, visit the Accidents section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WHMI 93.5 FM.
