A nurse in Wisconsin is facing serious legal trouble after being accused of cutting off a dying man’s foot without permission.
What Happened?
Mary Brown, a 38-year-old hospice nurse, was working at Spring Valley Health and Rehab Center when she removed the foot of a 62-year-old patient in May 2022. The man was in hospice care after suffering from frostbite. His home had lost heat, and his feet had been badly damaged by the cold.
His right foot was hanging on by a small part of skin and bone. Brown told others she believed removing the foot would help him. But the shocking part is—she didn’t have a doctor’s order to do it, and she didn’t get the patient’s permission either.
Witnesses Say It Was Painful
Other staff members said the patient was awake and aware when the nurse cut off his foot. Some even said he appeared to be in pain. Brown didn’t use proper tools or anesthesia. One witness said it looked like she was doing surgery by herself—and it was disturbing to watch.
Afterwards, Brown reportedly joked about wanting to keep the foot. She said she planned to display it in her family’s taxidermy shop with a warning sign that read, “Wear your boots, kids.” This left many people angry and confused.
The Investigation and Charges
The incident came to light when a medical examiner noticed the foot next to the man’s body during an autopsy. That discovery led to a full investigation. Authorities said there was no record of any doctor approving the amputation.
Brown was later charged with two crimes: mayhem (which means causing serious harm to someone on purpose) and elder abuse. She pleaded not guilty in court and was released on a $150,000 bond under strict conditions. She is not allowed to work as a nurse or caregiver while the case is ongoing.
A Call for Better Oversight
This case has raised big concerns about how some patients are treated in care homes. People are now asking for better rules and more oversight so this kind of thing doesn’t happen again.
The health facility where this happened is also under review for how it handled the situation.
