Review into amputation underway after patient says wrong leg removed at Grace Hospital

A patient safety review is currently underway following a disturbing incident at Grace Hospital in Winnipeg. Jason Kennedy, a 48-year-old man, went in for surgery to amputate his right leg due to a bone infection. However, upon waking up from the procedure, he was shocked to discover that his left leg below the knee had been mistakenly amputated instead.

Kennedy, a former commercial fisherman, had been experiencing pain and bleeding in his right foot, which led him to seek medical attention at Seven Oaks General Hospital. After being transferred to Grace Hospital, the amputation was scheduled and carried out on October 31st. It wasn’t until after the surgery that Kennedy realized the grave mistake that had been made.

In an emotional recount of the events, Kennedy expressed his disbelief and shock at waking up to find his left leg missing. He recalls the moment of realization, stating, “I was just wondering if this was a bad dream. The pain is still in my [right] foot, and it’s there right now as we speak.”

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority has issued a statement acknowledging the distress caused to Kennedy, his family, and the care providers involved. They have offered their sincere apologies and are conducting a thorough review of the incident to identify any system failures or learning opportunities.

Kennedy, despite the devastating loss of his left leg, has shown remarkable forgiveness and resilience. He attributes his ability to forgive to the lessons he learned from his family, stating, “I could forgive a person easily because I learned from my family how forgiveness is important.”

However, Kennedy’s mother, Yvonne Young, believes that responsibility should be taken for the grave mistake that led to the wrong leg being amputated. She insists that her son should be compensated for what has happened to him and provided with the necessary support, such as prosthetics, to help him move forward with his life.

The incident has left Kennedy facing an uncertain future, as he grapples with the life-changing consequences of losing a leg. Despite the challenges ahead, he remains hopeful and determined to rebuild his life. As the patient safety review continues, steps are being taken to ensure that such a devastating error is not repeated in the future.