Cancer patient sues hospital after surgeon allegedly amputated wrong leg: ‘Defies explanation’

A cancer-stricken Ohio woman who underwent a required amputation procedure last year is now a double amputee — after her surgeon allegedly cut off the wrong leg, according to a lawsuit.

Sharon Jacks was set to have a below-the-knee amputation of her right leg at Selby General Hospital in Marietta, Ohio, on Sept. 19, 2025 but was left shocked when she woke up to her left leg gone, according to the 32-page complaint obtained 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.”

Sharon Jacks, filed a lawsuit against her surgeon, a surgical team, and Selby General Hospital in Marietta, Ohio, after they allegedly amputated the wrong leg. WBNS 10TV

Doctors later had to remove the leg that was originally scheduled for surgery, which has left Jacks as a double amputee.

Jacks filed a lawsuit against her surgeon, other members of the surgical team and the hospital on Sept. 15.

In a press release, Jacks’ attorney argued “there is simply no excuse” for what happened to his client, WCHS reported.

Layne alleged that “complete and total failure by multiple medical professionals caused this 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,” he said.

“Now every day for the rest of her life, Sharon Jacks must live with the consequences of those failures.”

Medical records reviewed by Jacks’ attorney indicate the surgeon initially marked the correct leg before she went under the knife — but the wrong leg was still chopped off.

“The mark was still on the correct leg after the wrong leg had been taken off,” Layne claimed.

According to the suit, the medical team carried out two surgical “time-outs” prior to Jacks’ procedure.

“Time-outs” are conducted to confirm the patient’s identity, the planned operation and the correct surgical site before an incision is made, according to the complaint. 

“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 argued.

Sharon Jacks is suing her surgeon and members of a surgical team at Selby General Hospital in Marietta, after she said doctors amputated the wrong leg during surgery in 2025. Google Maps

“The records say that happened twice, but somehow Ms. Jacks is missing a leg that should have not been removed,” the attorney said of the documented “time-outs.”

Wrong-site surgery is considered one of the most serious preventable medical mishaps and is often referred to as a “never event,” a term that is recognized throughout the healthcare industry, the suit claims. 

“It shouldn’t happen in any type of medicine. It shouldn’t happen anywhere. It shouldn’t happen in a veterinary setting, even,” Jacks’ attorney said. 

The hospital, surgeon and members of the surgical team are all listed as defendants in the suit — all of whom are accused of “a complete failure of basic safety procedures.”

Jacks’ complaint alleges nine counts, including gross negligence, reckless conduct, and corporate negligence.

The lawsuit also seeks compensatory and punitive damages for Jacks to cover past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent impairment, and loss of enjoyment of life.

In a statement to WBNS, Selby General Hospital confirmed an “adverse surgical event” occurred in September 2025 and that the team “responded immediately to address the medical needs of the patient involved and provide support to their family.”

“Our proactive review of what took place confirmed this was an avoidable event, and that our expected operating room procedures were not followed. Those involved were held accountable for their actions and are no longer in their positions,” the statement read in part.

The hospital noted that it has “fully cooperated with a review by the Ohio Department of Health, which confirmed our surgical protocols are safe and effective” and their “clinical and leadership teams have implemented corrective measures across our organization to prevent a situation like this from recurring.”

The Post reached out to Selby General Hospital – Memorial Health System and Jacks’ attorney for comment.