A man has received what is believed to be the biggest medical payout in history after doctors "irreversibly" damaged his penis.
The patient, who has not been identified, visited a clinic in Albuquerque in search of help for fatigue and weight loss, Daily Mail reported.
According to a lawsuit filed in 2020, the clinic, which claims to provide "compassionate care with cutting-edge treatments for Erectile Dysfunction, Testosterone Replacement Therapy, Premature Ejaculation, and Hair Restoration," was accused of misdiagnosing the then-66-year-old.
It has been claimed that they gave him "invasive erectile dysfunction shots" several times per week, and had an unqualified physician assistant perform surgery on him. This allegedly caused permanent damage to the victim's manhood.
Nick Rowley, an attorney on the plaintiff's team, told KRQE: "This corporate scheme manipulates and uses fear as a tactic to convince these men to do this."
The lawyer added that the out-of-state medical corporation set up a "fraudulent scheme to make millions off of conning old men".
Jurors in New Mexico decided to award the man more than $412 million after agreeing that he was a victim of fraud.
Court records indicate that jurors found the defendants liable for fraudulent and negligent conduct, which caused damages to the plaintiff. Additionally, they determined that the defendants' unconscionable actions violated the Unfair Practices Act.
The attorneys said in a statement that the verdict sends a strong message that "medical providers cannot prioritize profits over patients’ well-being without being held accountable".
Lori Bencoe, one of the man’s attorneys, added: "It [the damages] 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," cited by CBS News.
"That is a very egregious breach of their fiduciary duty," she continued. "That’s a breach of trust and anytime someone is wearing a white coat, they shouldn’t be allowed to do that."
NuMale - which has clinics in Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Wisconsin - said that they “disagree with the verdict and intent to pursue all available legal remedies, including appeal".
In a statement, the company said that its focus is on continuing to deliver patient care, adding: "While we respect the judicial process, due to ongoing legal proceedings, we cannot comment on specific details of the case at this time."
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