A nurse in Wisconsin, Mary K. Brown, has pleaded no contest to patient abuse after she amputated a 62-year-old man’s foot without his consent or a doctor’s approval. The incident took place in May 2022 while the man was under her care at a nursing home. The patient was suffering from severe frostbite and reportedly experienced considerable pain during the unauthorized procedure.
According to court documents, Brown’s intention was to display the amputated foot at her family’s taxidermy shop. Following her plea, she was fined $443 but will not serve any jail time. The patient passed away shortly after the amputation, which prompted an investigation.
Initially, Brown faced additional charges, including intentionally causing great bodily harm and elder abuse, but those were dropped as part of her plea deal. She has agreed to surrender her nursing license and will not practice as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse in Wisconsin.
The case drew attention when the county medical examiner flagged the man’s death due to the “unusual circumstances” surrounding it. An autopsy revealed that his foot was not attached to his body and was found lying beside him. Medical records indicated that the foot had been amputated without a physician’s order.
Nursing staff reported that the man’s foot appeared discolored and was barely attached. Brown is said to have used scissors to cut the tendon, leading to the amputation. It was reported that during the procedure, the patient could feel pain, which was corroborated by other nurses present. One witness recalled that Brown mentioned her family’s taxidermy business and discussed her plan to display the foot with a sign reading, “Wear your boots kids.”
