Man who had wrong foot amputated in 1995 dies

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 16, 2001

TAMPA -- He became the subject of national news when a doctor removed the wrong foot during a botched operation. His case became the butt of late-night television jokes and prompted hospitals to review their surgical procedures.

Yet, despite the fact that he later had his other foot amputated and relied on a wheelchair to get around, he never expressed bitterness or resentment.

Willie F. King died last week. He was 58.

Mr. King, a diabetic whose life became a public story because of the infamous 1995 operation, collapsed in his home Wednesday. He died from coronary artery bypass graft thrombosis, or a blood clot.

His wife, Mary King, said his blood sugar had dipped earlier that day.

"It happened by surprise," Mrs. King said Monday. "He was very, very special."

The Kings married in 1996, more than a year after a surgeon at University Community Hospital mistakenly amputated his left foot. The hospital and surgeon Rolando Sanchez later settled with Mr. King for $1.15-million.

Mr. King had his right foot removed a month after the botched operation. He had prosthetic limbs but they were uncomfortable to use, said his attorney, Peter Brudny.

Brudny saw Mr. King the day before his death. Mr. King visited Brudny at his law office to celebrate a settlement Brudny received in connection with the case.

Brudny had planned to sue a University of South Florida professor and the Board of Regents for slander because of comments made during a course for medical students. Both Brudny and Mr. King were defamed during a discussion about medical malpractice, Brudny said.

The regents paid Brudny an undisclosed amount of money to settle the case. Brudny shared some of the money with Mr. King.

"There was something really, really special between us," Brudny said. "He was a man of such integrity and high spiritual standing that even though he had been dealt such bad cards back then, losing both legs, he held his head up and never blamed anyone."

Mr. King's daughter, Gequita Cowan, said her father always maintained a positive outlook on life, even after the surgery.

He would rise early in the morning, many times before the sun, and sit on the porch.

"He took it in stride," Cowan said. "He always tried to say a good word about everybody."

Mr. King is survived by his wife, daughter and two sons, Raul King and Willie King Jr.

Mr. King had requested that he be cremated. A private memorial service for family and close friends will be held at the couple's house tonight.

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