Jason Kennedy’s Wrong Leg Amputation Scandal

In 2024, a man named Jason Kennedy walked into a Winnipeg hospital expecting a life-changing surgery—only to wake up to a nightmare he never saw coming. The 48-year-old from Bloodvein First Nation had been battling a painful bone infection in his right leg, and doctors told him it needed to be amputated. But when he came out of surgery, his right leg was still there—and his left leg was gone below the knee. This jaw-dropping mistake at Grace Hospital in Winnipeg has left Jason, his family, and an entire community reeling. How could something like this happen? Let’s dive into every detail of this unbelievable story right here on Phacts, where we dig deep into the facts that matter.

A Painful Problem Leads to Surgery

Jason Kennedy’s troubles started long before that fateful day in October 2024. As a former commercial fisherman from Bloodvein First Nation, a community about 280 kilometers north of Winnipeg, Jason was used to hard work and being on his feet. But over time, a bone infection—called osteomyelitis—took root in his right foot. It’s a condition where bacteria invade the bone, causing swelling, pain, and sometimes even pus or bleeding. For Jason, it got so bad that he couldn’t ignore it anymore. He’d been living in Winnipeg, and on October 23, 2024, he showed up at Seven Oaks General Hospital because his right foot was bleeding and hurting like never before.

Doctors at Seven Oaks checked him out. They did X-rays and saw the infection had dug into his right toe and bone, spreading through his body. It was serious—life-threatening, even. Jason was already dealing with diabetes, a condition common among First Nations people that can make infections worse and harder to heal. After some tests and talks, the plan was clear: his right leg had to go. The surgery was set for October 31 at Grace Hospital, a bigger facility better equipped for the job.

The Day of the Surgery

On the morning of October 31, Jason was moved from Seven Oaks to Grace Hospital before 7 a.m. He was nervous but ready. He’d been on strong pain medication to manage the agony in his right foot, and he trusted the doctors to fix things. The plan was straightforward: amputate his right leg below the knee to stop the infection from spreading further. He went under anesthesia, expecting to wake up with one less leg—but the right one.

Waking Up to a Shock

When Jason came out of anesthesia in the recovery room, something felt off. As the fog of the drugs lifted, he looked down and couldn’t believe his eyes. His right leg—the one with the infection—was still there, throbbing with pain. But his left leg? It was gone below the knee. “I was in disbelief,” Jason later told reporters. “I knew for a fact they took the wrong leg.” His first urge was to scream and cry, but he was too stunned. He kept touching his face, hoping it was a bad dream, but the reality sank in fast.

What Went Wrong?

How does a hospital mix up something as basic as which leg to amputate? That’s the question everyone’s asking. The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, which runs Grace Hospital, called it a “complex clinical situation” and launched a patient safety review. They wouldn’t say much because of patient privacy, but they admitted something went terribly wrong. Jason said he’d had X-rays showing the infection was in his right foot, and doctors at Seven Oaks had been clear about the plan. So where did the breakdown happen?

One possibility is a mix-up in communication. Jason was on heavy pain meds, and he’d been moved between hospitals. Maybe the paperwork got confused, or the surgical team didn’t double-check the right leg before cutting. Hospitals usually have strict steps—like marking the surgery site with a pen—to avoid these mistakes, but somehow, those checks failed Jason.

The Aftermath Hits Hard

Jason’s life flipped upside down in an instant. He told reporters the pain in his right foot was still there, worse than ever, while his left leg—perfectly healthy before—was now a stump. As a fisherman who’d always been active, this was a gut punch. “I was always on my feet, doing something,” he said. “Now I gotta live with this.” He’d been homeless for a few years until finding a place in January 2023, and now he worried about what the future held with one leg gone and the other still at risk.

His mom, Yvonne Young, rushed to Winnipeg from Waterhen, Manitoba, to be by his side. But Jason didn’t tell her the full story until she got home. “He said, ‘Mom, there’s something I need to tell you,’” Yvonne recalled. “Jason didn’t want me driving back upset. He said, ‘They cut off the wrong leg.’” She was proud of his strength but furious at the mistake. “He needs to be compensated for what happened,” she said. “This is wrong.”

Jason Forgives, But Questions Linger

Here’s the surprising part: Jason isn’t angry. Despite the life-altering error, he’s chosen forgiveness. “I learned from my family—my mom, my dad, my grandma—how forgiveness is important,” he told APTN News. “Things happen for a reason, I like to say. I forgave them, and that’s all I can do.” He even joked with hospital staff, saying, “It’s growing back,” making them laugh. But behind that humor, he’s hurting. He’s in a wheelchair now, building upper body strength to get by, and hoping for a prosthetic leg someday.

Still, Jason wants answers. “This could’ve been avoided if we were all on the same page,” he said. He’s pushing for more checks—like extra steps to make sure the right limb is marked—because he doesn’t want anyone else to go through this.

A Community Steps Up

The news hit Bloodvein First Nation hard. Chief Lisa Young, Jason’s cousin, drove to Winnipeg as soon as she heard. She’s been his rock, messaging and talking with him through the ordeal. “Lisa’s been my support,” Jason said. She’s also meeting with leaders like the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) to demand a full investigation. “This shouldn’t happen to anybody, no matter what race you are,” she said. “It’s a sad, tragic outcome for what was supposed to be health care.”

The AMC and Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) are furious too. They’re calling it a “nightmarish mistake” and pointing to bigger problems—like how First Nations people often face worse health care. “This is another chapter in a story of inequity,” the SCO said. They want Indigenous leaders involved in the review to make sure it’s fair.

The Hospital Responds

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority didn’t dodge the issue. “We are aware of the incident and the distress it has caused the patient, their family, and the care providers,” a spokesperson said. The surgeon and two colleagues personally apologized to Jason, and they’re working on next steps. Manitoba’s Health Minister, Uzoma Asagwara, promised a “critical incident review” to figure out what happened—including whether racial bias played a role. “This is heartbreaking,” she said. “No one deserves to go through this.”

Jason’s right leg is still in bad shape, and he’s on antibiotics to fight the infection. He knows he might lose it too someday, but for now, he’s focused on adjusting to his new reality.

Bigger Issues Come to Light

This isn’t just about one mistake—it’s shining a spotlight on health care gaps. A 2023 report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information showed Manitoba has higher rates of leg amputations tied to diabetes—19 per 100,000 people compared to 9 nationally. First Nations folks, like Jason, are hit hardest because of diabetes and limited access to care. Homelessness, which Jason faced, makes it even tougher to stay healthy. Advocates say this error shows how the system can fail the people who need it most.

Where Things Stand Now

As of April 8, 2025, the review is still going. Jason’s at a different hospital, getting help with rehab and his right leg. The results of the investigation will be shared with him when it’s done, but no timeline’s set. Chief Lisa and First Nations groups are keeping the pressure on, and Jason’s story is spreading—raising awareness and pushing for change.

Join the Conversation with Phacts

What do you think about Jason Kennedy’s story? How could a hospital get this so wrong, and what should change to stop it from happening again? Drop your thoughts in the comments below—we want to hear from you! If you’re hooked on digging into stories like this, subscribe to phactsblog.com for more. Follow us on social media too, and stay in the loop with Phacts—where we keep it real and dive deep. Let’s keep talking about what matters!

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