A jury in New Mexico has awarded over $412 million to a man in a medical malpractice case involving NuMale Medical Center, a men’s health clinic with locations across multiple states. The verdict, announced Monday, is considered the largest ever awarded in a U.S. medical malpractice case.
The man’s attorneys alleged that the clinic engaged in fraud and dangerous medical practices, including administering unnecessary penile injections that caused irreversible harm. Attorney Lori Bencoe emphasized the breach of trust involved, stating, “Licensed professionals defrauding patients is an egregious violation of fiduciary duty.”
The case, filed in 2020, focused on the clinic’s treatment of a 66-year-old man who visited in 2017 seeking help for fatigue and weight loss. According to the lawsuit, the clinic misdiagnosed him and subjected him to invasive erectile dysfunction injections. Attorney Nick Rowley described the clinic’s practices as a “fraudulent scheme” designed to profit by convincing patients they needed frequent, costly injections.
The jury found the defendants’ conduct fraudulent, negligent, and in violation of New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act. The damages include both punitive and compensatory amounts.
NuMale Medical Center President Brad Palubicki responded in a statement, asserting the company’s commitment to patient safety and compliance. However, he declined to comment on specifics due to ongoing legal proceedings.
NuMale operates clinics in several states, including Colorado, Florida, and Wisconsin. The attorneys for the plaintiff expressed hope that the record-setting verdict will deter similar practices, highlighting the need for accountability in the medical field.
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