83-year-old diabetic grandmother amputated, but doctors choose the wrong leg

Three Venezuelan doctors were granted conditional release after being charged with mistakenly amputating the wrong leg of an 83-year-old patient at the Dr. Luis Razetti Hospital in the state of Barinas, Venezuela. This incident, considered an act of malpractice, has sparked public outrage.

On May 30, Drs. Marcial Rodríguez, Tibisay Camacho, and Génesis Ramírez, who are in their first year as residents in Anesthesiology and Resuscitation, were charged with causing extremely serious injuries with negligence. After being detained for more than a month, authorities granted them conditional release following a preliminary hearing.

The incident occurred on May 25, when Flor María Corredor was admitted to the hospital for diabetes-related problems. The surgery was to amputate her left leg as a result of a severe infection. However, during the operation, doctors made a mistake and removed her right leg, which was in good condition.

In a video shared on social media, Jesús David Carriazo Corredor said:

"My mom came in with a diabetic foot, the left one. Her right leg was amputated due to a doctor's mistake."

According to the Venezuelan Penal Code, these types of attacks could carry penalties of between three and six years in prison. The Code of Medical Ethics also includes the possibility of suspension from professional practice in cases of proven malpractice.

The investigation into the case continues while the patient recovers from the unrecoverable damage. Both civil organizations and family members have called for justice and reforms to prevent future medical errors of this magnitude.