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If you're squeamish, you might want to skip to the part with the heading "It's safe now," because we're about to travel some awkward territory.
I'm trying to temper my outrage over a recent court decision in Shelbyville, Ky. There's a good chance the jury was privy to important information that didn't make it into the Associated Press story I read.
But every time I mentally put myself into 64-year-old Phillip Seaton's shoes, I want to throw something or break something. I chose to write something, which might not have been the best available option.
Seaton went to Dr. John Patterson of Frankfort, Ky., for a circumcision in 2007.
During surgery, Patterson found cancer on the tip of Seaton's penis, so he cut off less than an inch of the organ. Later tests backed up the diagnosis.
The question in the lawsuit was whether Patterson had an obligation to get informed consent from the patient or his family before making that cut.
By a 10 to 2 decision, the jury ruled in favor of the doctor. That doesn't make sense to me, especially since it wasn't emergency surgery.
How would you like to wake up in a hospital bed and find a piece of any body part removed when you weren't told it was a possibility?
Nobody wants that. Not Seaton. Not Patterson. Nobody. Nobody. Nobody.
A man needs to know a Seaton-type surgery is coming before he goes under. At the very least, the doctor should've performed a pre-circumcision inspection of the area.
Clearly, Patterson and the jury disagreed. Different doctors testified for the plaintiff and the defense, so there's some doubt in the medical field about Patterson's actions. I should hope so.
Here's my takeaway from Seaton's circumstances: If you're about to have surgery, ask the doctor to list all the body parts that could be missing when you wake up. That, it seems, is your surest pathway to informed consent.
Seaton's story is an uncomfortable one, and in some ways, I wish I hadn't read it. I'm kind of sorry for inflicting this topic on you, but GOODNESS GRACIOUS ALIVE, folks.
Ten to 2?
Wow.
Let's move on, shall we?
It's safe now
College football's off season is a long haul for addicts like me, but we made it through with help from recruiting news, spring games, fall camp and game replays on several sports networks.
Over the years I've learned it doesn't make sense to wish time away because you don't get it back, but I'm anticipating Thursday's season openers the way I used to crave Christmas morning.
Now that the games are so tantalizingly close, I'm having a hard time focusing on important matters, which could explain the top part of this column.
M. SCOTT MORRIS is a Daily Journal feature writer. Contact him at 9662) 678-1589 or scott.morris@journalinc.com.