Wrong side for amputation(loss of license)

[Beldar_the_Cenobite, CNA]

I forgot who told me this story but they said that there was a story about an RN, who federally, lost their license after writing down the wrong side of the leg for the surgeons to amputate. The leg that wasn't supposed to get amputated was removed as well as the one that was supposed to. Huge lawsuit, RN lost their license nationwide. Is this true? Is it possible? I think she basically cannot ever work as an RN anywhere ever again. I just want to hear from the experts how serious this can get. My mom once told me, she's not an RN or doctor or any of that, that doctors are recommended to carry a special insurance for lawsuits that range from 1-2 million dollars in possible losses. I think I saw somewhere that nurses carry that as well?

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

Your first issue is, you listen to gossip.

Second, yes, carry malpractice insurance.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

Sounds like an old wives tale to me. I've never heard of "federally" losing a nursing license, considering all licenses are issued by state governments.

[Sour Lemon]

I've heard too many of your stories to take them seriously.

[Beldar_the_Cenobite, CNA]

Sounds like an old wives tale to me. I've never heard of "federally" losing a nursing license, considering all licenses are issued by state governments.

That's what I thought.

[Beldar_the_Cenobite, CNA]

I've heard too many of your stories to take them seriously.

If you've got nothing nice to say, then don't say nothing at all. Simple. Easy. Common sense. If this post wasn't worth your time explaining to, other than expressing your feelings about the logic behind the OP past posts, withhold your negative judgement and frolic onto another post that you would feel is more intellectual and worthy of your time. Thank you.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

If you've got nothing nice to say, then don't say nothing at all. Simple. Easy. Common sense. If this post wasn't worth your time explaining to, other than expressing your feelings about the logic behind the OP past posts, withhold your negative judgement and frolic onto another post that you would feel is more intellectual and worthy

of your time. Thank you.

Oh my. Guess this post was just trying to stir the pot. Sorry I responded.

[Sour Lemon]

Oh my. Guess this post was just trying to stir the pot. Sorry I responded.

Exactly. A quick check off the OP's history might save some well-meaning individuals from spending too much time on a serious answer.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Hmmmm. I declare this one cray Cray.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

aren't the docs supposed to talk to the patient and mark the part to be removed, themselves?

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

Stories like this tend tend to run rampant in hospitals and schools. Usually they exist to "scare" students or staff into paying close attention to certain issues having the potential to cause harm. Yes, wrong site surgeries do happen, but they are never due to the error of a single person.

Sometimes these wives' tales begin as humor and get perpetuated because it just sounds so crazy it must be true. You know, even though I work in one of the largest children's hospital systems in the country, and even though everyone and their mother knows someone who knows the infamous twins, Lemonjello and Oranjello, I have yet to see their name on a census board.

[Guest219794]

Yup. Absolutely true.