Associated Press | CNN | November 29, 2024

The man’s attorneys celebrated Monday’s verdict, saying they are hopeful it will prevent other men from falling victim to a scheme that involved fraud and what they described as dangerous penile injections. They said the punitive and compensatory damages total the largest amount to ever be awarded by a jury in a medical malpractice case in the U.S.

“It’s a national record-setting case, and it’s righteous because I don’t think there’s any place for licensed professionals to be defrauding patients for money. That is a very egregious breach of their fiduciary duty,” said Lori Bencoe, one of the lawyers who represented the plaintiff. “That’s breach of trust and anytime someone is wearing a white coat, they shouldn’t be allowed to do that.”

The award follows a trial held in Albuquerque earlier this month that centered on allegations outlined in a lawsuit filed by the man’s attorneys in 2020. NuMale Medical Center and company officials were named as defendants.

According to the complaint, the man was 66 when he visited the clinic in 2017 in search of treatment for fatigue and weight loss. The clinic is accused of misdiagnosing him and unnecessarily treating him with “invasive erectile dysfunction shots” that caused irreversible damage.

Nick Rowley, another attorney who was part of the plaintiff’s team, said the out-of-state medical corporation set up a “fraudulent scheme to make millions off of conning old men.” He provided some details in a social media post, saying clinic workers told patients they would have irreversible damage if they didn’t agree to injections three times a week.

NuMale Medical Center President Brad Palubicki said in a statement sent Wednesday to The Associated Press that the company’s focus is on continuing to deliver responsible patient care while maintaining strict safety and compliance standards at all of its facilities.

Marilyn Upchurch, Fallon Fischer | Albuquerque News  | November 26, 2024

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A New Mexico man received what lawyers are calling the largest medical malpractice payout in history. A jury decided this week that he will receive more than $400 million in damages for botched penile injections.

The $412,005,149 verdict was against NuMale Medical Center on Wyoming and Paseo for what attorneys called fraud and unfair business practices. According to the lawsuit, the man in his 70s sought treatment for fatigue and weight loss at NuMale’s Albuquerque clinic in 2017.

Attorneys said the clinic misdiagnosed him and unnecessarily treated him with “invasive erectile dysfunction shots,” causing irreversible damage. “This corporate scheme manipulates and uses fear as a tactic to convince these men to do this,” Nick Rowley, a trial lawyer, told KRQE News 13.

Kassi Foote |  KOB  | November 26, 2024

RIO RANCHO, N.M. – A jury just awarded a Rio Rancho man with what could be the largest medical malpractice verdict in history.

The Rio Rancho man ended up suing NuMale Medical Center at Wyoming and Paseo because of what he’s gone through and lasting medical consequences.

According to the lawsuit, the physician assistant in this case is Steven Chapman. The victim – Michael – told Chapman he was interested in testosterone replacement therapy to improve his energy and a medically managed weight loss plan.

But according to the lawsuit, Chapman brought up erectile dysfunction. Even though Michael said he was not interested in ED treatment, Chapman told him it was designed to work with the testosterone replacement therapy.

Ultimately, Michael purchased a plan which included testosterone pellet implants in his butt and at home penis injections.

When Michael felt the medications weren’t working, he went back to the office. The lawsuit states Chapman said Michael wasn’t doing it right, demonstrated the penis injection, and sent him home with a medically induced erection.

“This physician assistant injected the chemical into his penis because he couldn’t figure out how to do it, and he injected 75% more of the chemical and a stronger dose than he should have, and sent the patient home and said ‘Go show all your friends.’ This is what he said to a 66-year-old man,” said Nicholas Rowley, Michael’s attorney.

The lawsuit states Michael couldn’t get rid of the erection over the weekend and went back to the clinic. Medical staff tried painful and embarrassing procedures to help Michael, but it didn’t work.

Chapman reportedly told Michael to drive himself to the emergency room where he had emergency surgery. But the damage was done.

“His penis is dead. It’s actually, what it is now is it is much smaller than what it was, and it’s just a lump of scar tissue that doesn’t work in any way shape or form,” said Rowley.

Rowley says the urologist who treated his client claimed he’d seen cases like this before. But the close to half a billion dollar verdict will keep it from happening again.

He also wants this to be a reminder for people.

“If someone’s trying to sell you something medically, take a step back, ask other health care providers, get second opinions and third opinions. If there’s advertisements saying something’s going to be a quick fix for a problem, don’t trust it. Don’t trust it,” said Rowley.

The jury awarded Michael $412 million, but it could surpass $550 million once interest kicks in.

KOB 4 did get a statement from NuMale Medical Center’s president, Brad Palubicki. He says NuMale Medical Center is committed to high quality and safe patient care. They disagree with the verdict and intend to pursue all available legal remedies, including appeal.