When Circumcision Becomes Amputation
Image by iStockphoto
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.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
