A New Mexico man has secured a historic $412 million payout after a medical clinic misdiagnosed him and left him with irreversible damage following unnecessary penile injections.
In what has become the largest medical malpractice verdict in U.S. history, a 72-year-old New Mexico man was awarded over $412 million after receiving treatments that he claims “completely ruined” his life.
The ordeal began in 2017 when the man, then 66, visited NuMale Medical Center in Albuquerque seeking help with weight loss and testosterone replacement therapy. Instead, he was misdiagnosed with erectile dysfunction and persuaded to pay $5,000 for a treatment program involving penile injection shots and testosterone pellets.
According to court documents, the injections caused irreversible damage, leaving the man impotent, unable to urinate standing up, and suffering from severe scarring of the penis. His lawyers revealed that the medical staff dismissed his complaints, instead blaming him for “using the injections incorrectly.”
When he returned with concerns, a physician assistant demonstrated the injection process and sent him home with a medically induced, unnecessary erection, which only worsened the damage.
The man took NuMale Medical Center to court in 2020, alleging fraudulent and negligent practices. The jury found the clinic guilty of both, awarding him a record-breaking $412 million in compensatory and punitive damages. Interest could push the final payout to over $550 million.
A Fraudulent Scheme
The man’s legal team described the clinic’s actions as part of a “corporate scheme” to profit off vulnerable men. Lawyer Nick Rowley called it “a fraudulent scam preying on fear,” where patients were falsely told they’d face irreversible damage without frequent injections.
Another attorney, Lori Bencoe, labeled the case “a breach of trust” and a clear example of putting profits over patients. “Licensed professionals cannot be allowed to defraud patients for money,” she said.
NuMale’s Response
NuMale Medical Center, which operates clinics in multiple states, including Colorado, Florida, and Wisconsin, has disputed the jury’s decision. President Brad Palubicki stated the clinic “respects the judicial process” but plans to appeal the verdict.
This landmark case sends a strong message to medical providers, reminding them of their duty to prioritize patient safety over profits.
