Nurse amputates frostbitten foot of dying man without his permission to display in family's taxidermy shop
DURAND, WISCONSIN: Mary K Brown, a hospice nurse from Durand, has been charged with allegedly amputating the frostbitten foot of a dying man without his permission so she could "preserve it" for display in her family's taxidermy shop. If convicted she may face up to 40 years in prison.
Without even the doctor's permission, Brown hacked the victim's foot on May 27 and told her fellow nurse that "she intended to exhibit it" with a sign saying, "wear your boots, kids," according to a criminal complaint obtained by WQOW.
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As per the complaint, "The victim had been admitted to the Valley Health and Rehab Center in Spring Valley in March with severe frostbite on both of his feet.
By the end of May, doctors were sure that he was close to dying, and witnesses said his foot was necrotic and only held to the rest of his leg by dead skin and tendons."
"The patient clenched the nurse's hand tightly and moaned during the course," the complaint states as per the New York Post. The man told another nurse that he had "felt everything and was in agonizing pain," reports said.
Yet the nurse without having any regret, reportedly told police that "she cut off the man’s foot in order to make him more comfortable", and that she would have wanted the same for herself if she were in his position. As per the reports, the identity of the victim and when he died are not known, however, reports suggest he was an elderly man.
Officials at the Spring Valley Senior Living and Health Care facility have said the nurse is no longer working with them and that they will continue and fully cooperate with the investigation.
Kevin Larson, the CEO of the facility, told the outlet, "The nurse is no longer employed at the facility. We have and will continue to fully cooperate with the investigation into this matter." Brown has been charged with physical abuse of an elder person, intentionally causing great bodily harm and mayhem. She is expected to appear in court on December 6, and if convicted, each charge carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.