A Wisconsin hospice nurse has ben charged with amputating the frostbitten foot of a dying man without his permission, reportedly in order to display it in her family’s taxidermy shop.
Authorities say on May 27, Mary K. Brown, 38, cut off the victim’s right foot without his consent or a doctor’s approval, telling a fellow nurse that she planned on exhibiting it with a sign reading “wear your boots, kids,” according to a criminal complaint obtained by WQOW.
Victim’s Leg Amputated By Nurse Without His Permission, Says He Felt Everything During Surgery
The victim, who was not publicly named, had been admitted to the Valley Health and Rehab Center in Spring Valley in March with severe frostbite on both of his feet.
Within a month or two, doctors assumed he was close to death, with witnesses saying his foot had been badly necrotized and was held together by just dead skin and tendons, the complaint states.
To make matters worse, the man said he felt everything during the amputation and was in agonizing pain, clenching a nurses hand and moaning throughout the surgery.
Brown attempted to explain away the decision to cut off the man’s foot, telling cops that she did so in order to make him more comfortable, and added it is what she would have wanted had she been in his position.
On Friday, administrator and CEO of Spring Valley Senior Living and Health Care Kevin Larson confirmed to WQOW that Brown is no longer employed with the facility.
Nurse No Longer Employed With Facility, Charged With Physical Abuse Of Elderly Person
“We have and will continue to fully cooperate with the investigation into this matter. The person identified is not employed with our community.”
Meanwhile, it remains unclear in or when the victim died, according to the outlet.
Brown was charged with physical abuse of an elderly person, intentionally causing great bodily harm, as well as mayhem. Her next court appearance is scheduled for December 6.
No images or mugshots of Brown were immediately available as of Monday.
Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
