Doctors in Peru mistakenly amputated the wrong foot of an 86-year-old man, leaving them no choice but to cut off the other one as well to keep an infection from spreading, officials said.
"It was a terrible shock when I lifted up the sheets and saw they had amputated his left foot," the patient's daughter, Carmen Villanueva, said. She said doctors in the port city of Callao had been attending to an ulcer on Jorge Villanueva's right foot since Jan 4.
When the infection worsened on Saturday, they ordered the ill-fated emergency surgery. Realising their mistake, doctors performed a second operation the following day that left Mr Villanueva footless.
The Sabogal Hospital said in a statement that it suspended the doctors involved while it investigates.
Oscar Ugarte, Peru's health minister, confirmed the mistaken amputation, saying: "Without a doubt this should be punishable. ... It is a sad situation, and we have asked for an investigation."
Carmen Villanueva said her family plans to sue.
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