Louisville, KY (WDKY, WDRB)—A Kentucky Army veteran files a multi-million dollar lawsuit after losing part of his penis.
In 2010,Michael Nash, 61-years-old, was at the Lexington VA Medical Center, undergoing surgery for a penile implant replacement and circumcision.
The surgery was successful but problems arose during the post-operative care, his lawyer said.
The lawsuit claims that the nurse placed ice packs on Nash’s penile area to reduce swelling, but left the ice packs there for 19 hours.
“The result here is tragic,” Nash’s attorney, Larry Jones, said.
The lawsuit alleges that there was severe frostbite on Nash’s penis, which led to gangrene of his glans penis.
“Because of the frostbite and the gangrene on his penis, he had to have a very significant portion of his penis amputated,” his attorney said.
A five-inch section was removed. This has affected Nash’s ability to have sex, or to even urinate normally, his lawyer said.
“…It has totally devastated this man emotionally, and he is horribly upset and depressed,” his lawyer said.
The lawsuit seeks $10 million in damages. That’s a ceiling, and Nash could receive less.
Although, his attorney said that perhaps no amount of money could replace what Nash lost.
The suit came about after Nash’s federal court claim was denied.
The department of VA Affairs said that “it is our opinion that there was no negligence.”
