Cancer patient sues hospital after surgeon allegedly amputates wrong leg

An Ohio woman with cancer has become a double amputee after her surgeon allegedly removed the wrong leg, according to a lawsuit, the New York Post reports.

Sharon Jacks was scheduled for a below-the-knee amputation of her right leg at Selby General Hospital in Marietta on Sept. 19, 2025, but woke to find her left leg gone, according to a 32-page complaint obtained by WBNS.

“She went into surgery, and when she woke up, the wrong leg had been taken off,” her attorney, Brad Layne, told the outlet. “It defies explanation, obviously.”

Doctors later removed the originally scheduled leg. Jacks sued her surgeon, the surgical team and the hospital on Sept. 15, alleging nine counts, including gross negligence and corporate negligence.

Layne said records show two surgical “time-outs” were held, yet the mistake went unnoticed.

Selby General confirmed an “adverse surgical event” and called it “an avoidable event,” adding that those involved “are no longer in their positions.”