Ethical dimensions of living with one leg: A qualitative study

PurposeTo explore experiences of prosthetic leg provision, focusing on information, activities, and communication during hospitalization and after discharge.Material and methodsA hermeneutic analysis of unstructured dialogues with three adults aged 85+ living at home after leg amputation, pragmatically recruited by an outpatient surgeon.Ethical considerationsThe study is registered (j.nr. 26/2105) in the Danish regional research registry. Informed consent was obtained, stored, and handled in accordance with applicable regulations. The participants received oral invitations and information on the study's purpose. Moreover, they were assured of anonymity, confidentiality, and their right to withdraw at any time without consequence.ResultsFour themes emerged: (1) embodiment-the necessity of amputation; (2) lack of involvement in care decisions; (3) identity as physically active-to be maintained or re-established; and (4) altered everyday life and future. Living with one leg involves a complex and ethically charged transition, where suffering after major lower extremity amputation extends beyond physical loss to include autonomy, dignity, and identity.ConclusionPerson-centered care guided by meaningful dialogue, rather than rigid rehabilitation pathways, is essential to support older adults' informed decision-making and participation. Discretionary decisions about access to prosthetic rehabilitation and assistive devices may shape opportunities for mobility and inclusion, raising concerns about fairness and justice. These findings underscore the ethical importance of recognition, inclusion, and respectful communication, and highlight that high-quality rehabilitation requires a holistic and ethically grounded approach in which the person, not the procedure, remains central.