Nurse Charged for Allegedly Amputating a Dying Man’s Foot

Posted on behalf of Jeff Pitman on November 9, 2022 in Nursing Home Abuse
Updated on November 20, 2023

nurse amputated mans foot without permissionA nurse in western Wisconsin faces two felony charges in Pierce County for the physical abuse of an elderly person. Mary K. Brown is the 38-year-old defendant accused of intentionally committing great bodily harm and mayhem on an elderly man in her care.

Brown is a former employee of the Spring Valley Health and Rehab Center and one of the hospice nurses who had been assigned to care for the victim. The victim, an elderly man, was admitted to the facility in March 2022 with an advanced stage of frostbite on both feet.

By May 2022, abc News 18 says health officials at the facility reportedly believed the victim was close to death. Several witnesses observed that the victim’s foot had become necrotic and was barely hanging on by skin and tendons.

On May 27, Brown amputated the victim’s right foot. This procedure was done without a doctor’s order and without the consent of the patient.

One nurse reported to police how the victim said he felt “everything” during the procedure. Another nurse quoted Brown describing her family’s taxidermy shop. Allegedly, Brown planned to preserve and display the victim’s foot with a sign that would read, “Wear your boots, kids.”

Brown is no longer employed at the facility. She told police that she performed the amputation to try to make the victim more comfortable. She said that is what she would want to be done if she was in the victim’s place.

The initial court appearance for this trial is December 6. If convicted, each charge against Brown carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in jail. However, since the victim was an elderly person, that penalty could be raised by up to an additional six years for each charge.

Call Our Trusted Firm if You Suspect Elder Abuse

At PKSD, we are deeply committed to helping protect the rights of the elderly. If your loved one suffered physical or verbal abuse at the hands of a caregiver, we are prepared to represent you.

Contact our firm to discuss your situation and find out if you may have a case. We have been representing the injured for decades and have a history of proven results. Contact our law offices to request a case review – it is completely free – anytime, night or day. If you choose to hire our firm, there is nothing to pay up front. Our personal injury lawyers in Milwaukee are experienced and ready to help.

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