Malpractice Attorneys Lake Charles

KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, LouisianaKy. jury rules against penis amputation ...

Shelbyville, Kentucky (AP) - A truck driver from Kentucky who was taken to surgery for a simple circumcision, but woke up without a part of his penis lost his multimillion lawsuit Wednesday against the urologist who cut a section of the cancer-ridden the organ.

A six man, six women from the jury deliberated briefly before saying he disagreed with 64 years Phillip Seaton and his wife, Deborah, that Dr. John Patterson had failed to exercise proper care. Seaton also continued because he said he had not consented to the amputation.

The doctor said he decided to cut less than an inch of penis after discovering a life-threatening cancer during surgery in 2007. The rest of the penis was removed later by another doctor.

Patterson testified that when he cut off the foreskin, the penis looked like rotten cauliflower, indicating cancer. A pathologist testified that later, tests confirmed the diagnosis.

"What I saw was not a penis. What I saw was a cancer," Patterson testified.

His lawyer said at the trial of three days in Shelby County Circuit Court that the doctor saved the life of Seaton with his decisive action.

Seaton lawyer countered that Patterson should have sewn his patient and the couple has consulted on such a life-altering surgery and options for treating cancer.

"It was mutilated," Attorney Kevin George said during closing arguments that took about as long as the jury's deliberations. "His humanity was taken."

All the jurors, including foreman, declined to comment as they filed out of the courthouse after the trial.

Seaton, a former trucker Waddy with a long gray ponytail and gray beard, and his wife of 35 years had been searching for nearly 16 million in damages for "loss of service, love and affection ". They declined to comment after the verdict.

George said he planned to appeal on the grounds that the doctor is allowed to modify a consent to surgery only if there is a danger of imminent death.

"There was no emergency, no reason to do so," said George of amputation.

Seaton, who has limited reading skills, have signed a consent form for circumcision.The doctor's lawyer said that the consent given the latitude of Patterson unforeseen situations during surgery.

Patterson, who testified twice during the trial, said after the verdict, "I think we feel very good." He declined to say more on this highly publicized case, calling a reporter who tried to question him "a member of the tabloid press.

New distracted driving programs found effective | Lake Charles ...

Distracted driving is a major cause of car accidents in Louisiana, but some have argued that cellphone and texting while driving bans create more accidents than they prevent. That notion will likely be challenged by the positive results of two distracted driving pilot programs. The two programs are based on heightened law enforcement and a media blitz aimed at educating the public on the issue.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration the pilot programs entitled "Phone in One Hand, Ticket in the Other" have been highly successful in reducing distracted driving habits. The two pilot programs have operated in Syracuse, New York and Hartford, Connecticut during four, one month campaigns over the last two years. Increased law enforcement and media campaigns were the two tactics used to improve distracted driving behavior. Handheld cellphone use while driving fell by almost 60 percent and texting while driving fell by 72 percent in Hartford. Cellphone use and texting while driving fell by over one-third in Syracuse.

The two strategies used in the campaign were a reinforcement of effective procedures used in successful seat-belt use campaigns and drunken driving campaigns. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the news of the programs shows that strong laws coupled with highly visible enforcement can substantially reduce dangerous driving behavior. The news also comes on the heels of a report by the Governors Highway Safety Association that said new distracted driving laws should not be passed until new research demonstrates their effectiveness. Perhaps, news of the pilot programs will contribute to improved driving safety policies.

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