Chapter 15

Surgical Amputations

In my experience,  claims alleging negligent performance of an amputation as rare.  This chapter records only two case studies.

For the purposes of this textbook we are concerned about the following matters:

1. Was the amputation necessary?

2. Was the amputation performed properly?

Was the amputation necessary?

After a part has been removed,  the evidence as to whether it ought to have been removed quickly disappears because the digit or limb is discarded.

It is therefore usually wise to seek a second opinion before advising amputation of a limb unless the indication for its removal is clear cut -- for example when gangrene or osteogenic sarcoma (proven by biopsy) is the diagnosis.

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