A MAN has been awarded what has been deemed the biggest medical payout in history after doctors “completely ruined” his penis.
The 72-year-old patient from New Mexico in the US, who has not been named, will receive over $412,000,000 (around £325 million) from NuMale Medical Center in Albuquerque after a series of “invasive erectile dysfunction shots” caused him irreversible harm.
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In 2017, the then 66-year-old sought out treatment for fatigue and weight loss.
According to a lawsuit filed in 2020, he was misdiagnosed as having erectile dysfunction and sold on to the clinic’s $5,000 treatment programme, which involved erectile dysfunction injections multiple times per week.
The treatment also included testosterone pellet implantation.
A medical assistant provided the medication, including reversal medication, and taught him how to inject them at home.
But he eventually determined the medications weren’t working, so returned for a follow-up.
After his technique was criticised, a physician assistant went on to demonstrate the penis injection and sent the man home with a medically induced and medically unnecessary erection, his attorneys said.
The erection wouldn’t go away, so he was then required to have emergency surgery.
The man has now been left impotent and unable to have an erection, cannot urinate standing up, and has irreversible fibrosis of the penis or scar tissue where living cells used to be.
His impotence is permanent and the damage is completely irreversible.
Keith Bruno, one of the man’s attorneys, said NuMale “falsely marketed its clinic as a Male Health and Wellness Center” and “took advantage of (him) and lied to him about a fake diagnosis, all in the interest of turning a profit on someone’s livelihood”.
He added the verdict “sends a powerful message that medical providers cannot prioritise profits over patients’ well-being without being held accountable”.
Brad Palubicki, NuMale Medical Center President, told the Associated Press the company’s focus is continuing to deliver responsible patient care while maintaining strict safety and compliance standards at all of its facilities (Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, Nebraska, North Carolina and Wisconsin).
He said: “While we respect the judicial process, due to ongoing legal proceedings, we cannot comment on specific details of the case at this time.”
Erectile dysfunction injections
A 2019 review of studies by King College London estimated erectile dysfunction affects up to one in five men in the UK.
Erectile dysfunction injections are considered safe and used when other medications are ineffective or not suitable for the patient.
They work by relaxing muscles in the penis and opening up blood vessels, leading to increased blood flow and erections.
They typically work within five to 15 minutes of use.
An alternative to erectile dysfunction injections is a vacuum erection device – a non-invasive treatment which uses an external pump.
What is erectile dysfunction?
ERECTILE dysfunction – also known as impotence – is very common, especially in men over 40.
Erectile dysfunction is when you are either:
- Unable to get an erection
- Unable to keep an erection for long enough to have sex
Depending on the cause, you may still be able to get an erection at other times, such as when you wake up.
Sometimes you might also have low sex drive.
It’s not usually the sign of something serious but you should speak to a GP about it, especially if it’s causing you distress.
Possible causes include stress, tiredness, having too much booze, as well as some medicines.
But if your ED is persistent, it might be caused by:
- High blood pressure or high cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Depression or anxiety
- Hormone problems
