The dangers of circumcision

Another medical device manufacturer is held accountable for what a judge ruled to be a faulty product. The Mogen clamp, made by Mogen Circumcision Instruments, is used in circumcisions, and the manufacturer claims it is safe to use. Unfortunately, an infant lost the tip of his penis when it got caught in the clamp. The patient is permanently disfigured as a result. The New York judge awarded $10.8 million in compensatory and punitive damages. The award is meant to cover medical expenses as well as ongoing psychotherapy for the patient, who at three years of age is already self conscious about his deformity.

This was not the first ruling against Mogen. Mogen still owes $7.5 million as a result of a 2007 Massachusetts judgment. Mogen, it seems, has gone out of business, so it is doubtful any of the money will be collected.

The New York case was filed by anti-circumcision attorney David Llewellyn of Atlanta. Llewellyn has successfully won a number of circumcision cases. For more information, see this article from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

This was posted on Friday, July 23rd, 2010 and is filed in the Legal, Patient Care categories.