United States: A New Mexico jury has awarded over $412 million to a man who suffered irreparable harm after receiving treatment at NuMale Medical Center, a men’s health clinic with locations across several states. This record-setting verdict is the largest punitive and compensatory award in U.S. medical negligence history, as reported by NBC News.
Attorneys Applaud Verdict as a Deterrent
The plaintiff’s legal team celebrated the decision, emphasizing its potential to prevent similar fraudulent practices.
“This is a righteous and national precedent-setting case,” said Lori Bencoe, one of the attorneys. “Licensed professionals have a fiduciary duty to protect their patients, not defraud them for financial gain.”
Misdiagnosis and Harmful Treatments
It is an extension and connected case from a lawsuit that was filed in 2020. The 66-year-old plaintiff claimed he went to the defendant for treatment in 2017 complaining of fatigue and weight loss but was diagnosed incorrectly. The clinic offered erectile dysfunction shots which are painful and damaging, making the patients’ bodies extremely tight.
Attorney Nick Rowley accused NuMale of targeting elderly men with misleading claims and pressuring patients into costly, unnecessary treatments. He revealed that staff allegedly warned patients they would suffer lasting harm without agreeing to injections three times a week.
NuMale’s Response
NuMale Medical Center President Brad Palubicki expressed the company’s commitment to patient safety in a statement to the Associated Press.
“We have a great deal of regard for the judicial system; nonetheless, because of the Current court case, we do not wish to engage in additional discussion at this time,” Palubicki stated. NuMale currently has clinics all over some of the states; Colorado, Florida, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
Court Findings Highlight Fraud and Negligence
Jurors found that NuMale engaged in fraudulent and negligent practices, violating the Unfair Practices Act. They ruled that the company’s actions caused significant harm to the plaintiff, justifying the substantial award, as reported by NBC News.
A Wake-Up Call for Medical Providers
The plaintiff’s legal team hopes this landmark decision will prompt medical providers to prioritize patient safety and ethical practices. “This verdict sends a powerful message: fraudulent and harmful practices in healthcare will not go unpunished,” Bencoe concluded.