PENIS
NEWS
Man
Gets 13 Million Dollars For Fried Penis
A
California man was recently awarded 13 million dollars after a treatment
at Vanderbilt University Medical Center went horribly wrong, making it
necessary for physicians to amputate his penis.
Arthur C. Tucker Jr., who was diagnosed with a swollen prostate in
December of 1998, went into the hospital for a routine one-hour
treatment, but came out with a badly burned penis after the
microwave-style device malfunctioned. The device, known as the
Pros-ta-tron system, involves channeling microwave-energy through a
catheter in the urethra, in order to burn off excess prostate cells.
Somehow, during Tucker's treatment, the device slipped, causing the
waves to be directed at his penis, rather than the intended prostate.
Tucker's penis was reportedly so badly burned, that he was bed-ridden
for nearly a month. 32 days following the botched treatment, it had to
be amputated.
The Food and Drug Administration approved the Pros-ta-tron Treatment in
1996. By early 2000, they had received over 30 reports of problems such
as bleeding, infections, burns and impotence, as a result. Vanderbilt
University Medical Center is still using the controversial device, but
reports that they have altered their procedures somewhat.
