Man suing doc for amputating penis signed pre-operation consent form but can't read: lawyer

Brian Bohannon/AP

Deborah and Phillip Seaton of Waddy, Ky., are suing Phillip Seaton's urologist for amputating his penis during what was supposed to be a circumcision.

A Kentucky man who is suing a doctor for amputating an inch of his penis during a circumcision surgery probably wishes he had read the fine print on a pre-operation form.Phillip Seaton, a 64-year-old truck driver, has argued in a civil trial that he never gave consent for Dr. John Patterson to remove part of his penis in the 2007 surgery.The doctor has said he made the partial amputation out of medical necessity after he found cancerous cells during the circumcision procedure. At trial Tuesday, Patterson's attorneys produced a pre-surgery form that was signed by Seaton and authorized the urologist to perform any action necessary if unforeseen problems arose during the surgery, local TV station WLKY reported.Seaton, however, can't read or write, his lawyer said, the TV station reported.Seaton and his wife, Deborah, are suing Patterson, who practices in Louisville, for an undisclosed amount of money, citing "loss of service, love and affection," The Associated Press reported.

Dr. John Patterson testified in his own defense Tuesday. Dylan Lovan/AP

Taking the stand in his own defense, Patterson testified Tuesday there was no indication before surgery that Seaton had penile cancer. He argued that he acted out of medical necessity in the man's best interest.

The doctor said that when he removed Seaton's foreskin he found a diseased organ that could not be recognized as a penis, The Associated Press reported.

Following the surgery, the rest of Seaton's penis was amputated by a different doctor, Patterson's lawyer argued.

Two physicians who testified at the civil trial Tuesday differed on whether the partial amputation was a medical necessity that needed to be performed immediately, as Patterson has claimed, The Associated Press reported.

Family members also testified that Seaton has become extremely angry since the surgery.

With News Wire services.