When Circumcision Becomes Amputation
The Shmooze can think of at least one guy who won’t be performing a bris anytime soon.
John Patterson, a doctor at Jewish Hospital in Louisville, Ky., is in court this week, facing a lawsuit for amputating a penis during what was intended to be a circumcision. He’s being sued by Phillip Seaton, who’s already reached an undisclosed settlement with the hospital out of court.
Patterson was supposed to circumcise Seaton in 2007 because of “inflammation” — but says he amputated the tip of his patient’s penis after discovering a potentially fatal form of cancer during the procedure.
“Mr Seaton is here today, able to be in this courtroom… because John Patterson saved his life,” said Clay Robertson, Patterson’s lawyer. The doctor also contends that Seaton signed a release before the operation that allowed for other treatments in the event of unforeseen developments.
Patterson and his wife — who are pursuing unspecified damages for “loss of service, love and affection” — say the doctor needed to get consent before the amputation. Two doctors told ABC News they agree.
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.
If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO