The state medical board has opened a review of past surgical cases handled by Dr. Eric Voss, a prominent orthopedic surgeon who specialized in amputations, after confirming that Voss had both of his healthy legs surgically removed in 2023 due to an amputation fetish. The revelation has raised questions about whether his personal condition influenced his treatment of patients.

Dr. Voss, who was the director of the Limb Preservation and Amputation Center at St. Mary's Hospital in Portland, Oregon, stepped down from his position last week. Hospital officials said the review is preventive and that no concrete cases of unnecessary surgery have been identified so far.

The Surgeon's Career

Dr. Voss performed more than 1,200 lower-limb amputations over a 15-year career. He was widely regarded as a leading expert in painful, complex amputation procedures, particularly for patients with severe diabetes-related gangrene and traumatic injuries.

According to the hospital's website, Voss authored more than 40 peer-reviewed papers and frequently served as a keynote speaker at national orthopedic conferences. He was also a proponent of aggressive amputation in cases where limb salvage had low odds of success.

One former colleague, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, described Voss as technically skilled but unusually enthusiastic about amputations. The colleague said Voss sometimes recommended amputation earlier than other surgeons would have considered it.

Revelation of His Own Surgery

The existence of Voss's own amputation came to light in late July 2026, when a former employee of the hospital anonymously contacted the state medical board. The tip included a copy of a surgical record showing that Voss had both legs amputated at a private clinic in Mexico in December 2023.

That clinic is known for performing elective amputations on people with body integrity identity disorder, a condition in which individuals feel their limb or limbs are not truly part of their body. The record listed the indication as "patient request due to longstanding BIID."

The state medical board confirmed that it had received the tip and began a formal inquiry on July 28. Board spokesperson Linda Okonkwo said the board is verifying whether Voss disclosed his condition to his employer or to his patients.

"We are looking into whether any patient was asked to consent to amputation in a context where the surgeon's personal condition might have affected their recommendation," Okonkwo said.

Patient Safety Concerns

Medical ethicists say the case raises two distinct concerns. The first is whether Voss's personal desire for amputation created a bias in his clinical judgment. The second is whether he had any obligation to disclose his condition to patients.

Dr. Alice Reming, a professor of medical ethics at Johns Hopkins University, said a surgeon's personal preferences must never override the best interests of the patient. "If a doctor has a psychological condition that aligns with the procedure they are performing, then that doctor has a professional and ethical duty to disclose it to the patient or to recuse themselves," Reming said.

The hospital is now contacting all patients who underwent a lower-limb amputation under Voss's care during the past five years. In a statement issued Monday, St. Mary's said it has hired an independent consultant to audit the records for cases where the decision to amputate may have been made without sufficient medical justification.

The hospital's chief medical officer, Dr. Thomas Reyes, said no adverse patient outcomes have been reported yet. "We are taking this proactively. We will have no further comment until the audit is complete," Reyes said.

Body Integrity Identity Disorder and Professional Conduct

Body integrity identity disorder, also known as apotemnophilia, is a recognized but rare psychiatric condition. People with the condition have an intense desire to have a healthy limb or limbs removed. The World Health Organization classified it as a disorder under the category of body integrity dysphoria in 2022.

Reming said that having BIID does not automatically make a person unfit to practice medicine. Many people with the condition lead functioning lives and do not act on their urges. However, the choice to undergo elective amputation of both healthy legs is highly unusual and indicates that the condition was severe enough to drive major medical decisions.

The key legal question, experts say, is whether Voss used his position as a top amputation surgeon to facilitate his personal desire for amputation. The state medical board said it is also investigating whether Voss referred his own case to the Mexican clinic using insider knowledge of surgeons who are willing to perform the procedure.

Neither Voss nor his lawyer has responded to requests for comment. An automated message on his hospital voicemail says the mailbox is no longer active.

Patient Reactions

Several former patients have come forward with concerns. According to local news reports, at least two patients have asked the hospital to produce their complete surgical records. The hospital said requests for records are being processed quickly.

One patient, who lost a foot to amputation in 2022, told a local television station that she had been "pressured" into the procedure after her surgeon insisted that a lower limb amputation would improve her quality of life. The hospital said it cannot confirm the details without the patient's written consent.

Legal experts say the case could lead to civil lawsuits if the audit finds evidence of unnecessary amputations. Jason Locke, a medical malpractice attorney in Portland, said the hospital could be held liable for failing to supervise Voss or investigate his activities. "A surgeon who has his own healthy legs removed is a clear red flag that should have been detected," Locke said.

What Comes Next

The state medical board said it will complete its preliminary review within 60 days. If it finds evidence of misconduct, it will hold a formal hearing and may revoke Voss's medical license.

The hospital's independent audit is expected to take three to four months. Its findings will be shared with the medical board and with patients whose records are deemed suspicious.

Dr. Voss's current location is unknown. His last known address is a residential property in Lake Oswego, Oregon, which he sold in early 2024. No public records indicate that he has practiced medicine since his own surgery.

The case has renewed public debate about the ethical boundaries of elective surgery and the responsibility of medical institutions to screen staff for potential conflicts of interest. No policy changes have been announced at St. Mary's Hospital, though officials said they are reviewing their hiring and supervision procedures.