Man Sues Over Genital Amputation
A Ky. man says surgeons removed his penis after he went in for a circumcision.
Sept. 25, 2008— -- LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - A Kentucky man who claims his penis wasremoved without his consent during what was supposed to be acircumcision has sued the doctor who performed the surgery.
Phillip Seaton, 61, and his wife are seeking unspecifiedcompensation from Dr. John M. Patterson and the medical practicethat performed the circumcision for "loss of service, love andaffection." The Seatons also are seeking unspecified punitivedamages from Patterson and the medical practice, CommonwealthUrology.
A woman who answered the phone at Commonwealth Urology would nottake a message for the doctor Thursday. But the Seaton's attorneysaid the doctor's post-surgical notes show the doctor thought hedetected cancer and removed the penis. Attorney Kevin George said alater test did detect cancer.
"It was not an emergency," George told The Associated Press onThursday. "It didn't have to happen that way."Seaton was having the procedure on Oct. 19, 2007, to bettertreat inflammation.
The lawsuit filed earlier this month in state court claimsPatterson removed Seaton's penis without consulting either Phillipor Deborah Seaton, or giving them an opportunity to seek a secondopinion.
The couple also sued the anesthesiologist, Dr. Oliver James ofShelbyville, claiming he used a general anesthesia even thoughSeaton asked that it not be administered.
A message left at Commonwealth Urology's corporate office inLexington was not immediately returned Thursday. A message left forJames also was not immediately returned.
The Seatons' suit is similar to one in which an Indianapolis manwas awarded more than $2.3 million in damages after he claimed hispenis and left testicle were removed without his consent duringsurgery for an infection in 1997.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)