Nurse who amputated man's foot without permission gets no jail time

Warning: This article contains graphic content.

A nurse who cut off her patient's foot without his consent entered a no contest plea and avoided jail time.

Citing official documents, local media outlet Pierce County Journal reported that Mary Brown from Wisconsin will not face prison time and will instead pay court costs amounting to $443 (over P25,000) after amputating a 62-year-old man's foot without permission in May 2022, which was followed by his death a few days later.

Brown's charges in connection with intentionally causing great bodily harm and mayhem as well as physically abusing an elderly person were dismissed following her no contest plea.

A no contest plea is a "plea by a criminal defendant that they will not contest a charge." According to the Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute, it "does not expressly admit guilt, but nonetheless waives the right to a trial and authorizes the court to treat the criminal defendant as if they were guilty for purposes of sentencing."

PEOPLE Magazine, citing court documents, reported that Brown will no longer practice as a registered nurse or as a licensed practical nurse in Wisconsin.

According to NBC News, records showed that Brown amputated her patient's foot because she wanted to put it on display in a taxidermy shop owned by her family. She planned on showcasing it with a "Wear your boots, kids" sign.

The media outlet reported that authorities were alerted by the man's death in June 2022 when his body was sent to an assisted living facility for autopsy, with the county medical examiner noting the "unusual circumstances" of his passing. The latter said the victim's foot was placed right beside him.

Upon checking the official records of the patient, who sought treatment for the "severe frostbite" on his feet, the medical examiner learned that the nurse amputated his foot without an order by his physician.

Brown allegedly cut a tendon using a pair of scissors, stored it in a bag, and then placed it in a freezer.