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MARIETTA - A Meigs County woman and her husband have filed a medical negligence lawsuit saying a surgical team at Selby General Hospital amputated the wrong leg during a procedure last year.
Sharon S. Jacks and Dannie W. Jacks filed the complaint Sept. 15 in Washington County Common Pleas Court.
Sharon Jacks was scheduled to have her right leg amputated Sept. 19, 2025, according to a news release from the couple's attorneys. After the alleged error resulted in the amputation of her left leg, she underwent another operation at a different facility to amputate her right leg, leaving her a double amputee, the release said.
In a statement dated Sept. 28, Selby General Hospital acknowledged an "adverse surgical event" occurred in September 2025.
"Our proactive review of what took place confirmed this was an avoidable event, and that our expected operating room procedures were not followed," the hospital said. "Those involved were held accountable for their actions and are no longer in their positions."
The statement did not identify those involved or specify the personnel actions taken.
The attorneys' release says medical records document two surgical "timeouts," safety checks intended to verify the patient, procedure and correct surgical site, before the amputation.
The couple alleges the surgical team had multiple opportunities to identify the mistake, including while preparing and draping the left leg and placing a pneumatic tourniquet on her left thigh.
"Despite several opportunities to identify the mistake and stop the procedure, the surgical team somehow never noticed they were operating on the wrong leg," Brad Layne, an attorney representing the couple, said in the release.
Layne is with Kayser Layne & Clark in Point Pleasant, W.Va.
"Now every day for the rest of her life, Sharon Jacks must live with the consequences of those failures," he said.
The hospital said its team responded immediately to address the patient's medical needs and to support the family.
Selby said its clinical and leadership teams implemented corrective measures across the organization, including mandatory retraining for all surgical employees on patient safety policies and procedures and the development of additional requirements where needed.
The hospital said its partners at the Mayo Clinic reviewed its internal safety procedures and protocols, which it said align with industry standards. It also said it cooperated with an Ohio Department of Health review that confirmed its “surgical protocols were safe and effective”.
"We are saddened by what occurred, and our team continues to keep this patient and their family in our prayers," the hospital said.
The lawsuit names Selby General Hospital, Marietta Memorial Hospital, Marietta Area Health Care Inc., Marietta Health Care Physicians Inc. and First Settlement Orthopaedics Inc. as defendants.
Also named are Dr. Gregory B. Krivchenia, who the complaint says provided orthopedic surgical care to Jacks; Matthew Whitaker, a physician assistant; Dr. John Lee; and Kristen Hambrick, a certified registered nurse anesthetist.
Jacks alleges she has suffered permanent disability, disfigurement, loss of mobility and independence, physical pain, emotional distress and substantial medical expenses. She also alleges she will require continuing medical treatment, rehabilitation and prosthetic care.
Her husband asserts a loss-of-consortium claim involving the impact of her injuries on their marital relationship.
The couple seeks compensatory and punitive damages and other relief available under Ohio law. They have requested a jury trial.
Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com.