A Kentucky surgeon is being sued by American truck driver Phillip Seaton after performing an unauthorized amputation of his penis.
At the age of 64, Mr. Seaton had consented to a surgery in 2007, which was intended solely for a circumcision aimed at alleviating inflammation of the organ.
However, during the procedure, Dr. John Patterson reported discovering a rare and lethal cancer affecting Mr. Seaton’s penis, leading him to make the ‘life-saving’ choice to perform an amputation.
Dr. Patterson asserts that he amputated less than an inch of the penis, while a different doctor was responsible for amputating the remaining portion. Four photographs demonstrating the removal of the organ were presented to the jurors, clearly depicting the altered state of Mr. Seaton’s anatomy.
Mr. Seaton recounted his response upon regaining consciousness from the surgery, stating: ‘I pulled the dressing down, and I didn’t see nothing.
‘Then I came out of the restroom and I said, “I’m getting the hell out of this damn hospital”.’
Currently, Mr. Seaton and his wife, Deborah, are pursuing legal action against Dr. Patterson for ‘loss of service, love and affection’ resulting from the amputation, seeking unspecified damages.
Deborah Seaton contends that there was no consultation with her regarding the procedure. ‘It’s his body,’ she argued in court. ‘He should have a say in it.’
In response, Dr. Patterson maintained that he believed it would be inadvisable to seek the wife’s consent.
‘My impression was she would not be someone I would ask what he would want,’ he clarified.
The testimonies related to the case are ongoing.
