Lawsuit Alleges Medical Malpractice in Transgender Phalloplasty Surgeries at Massachusetts General Hospital

Two anonymous transgender patients who underwent phalloplasty surgeries at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in 2021 and 2022 have filed separate medical malpractice lawsuits against former HMS professor Curtis L. Cetrulo and the hospital. The plaintiffs, who were both patients of Cetrulo, allege that their surgeries, which were part of gender affirming care, were too experimental and that Cetrulo did not inform them of the possible risks. The procedures, which involved constructing penises using abdominal tissue, resulted in severe pain, permanent scarring, disfigurement, and disability for both patients, with one of them requiring additional surgeries and having to have his penis removed altogether.

The patients have requested a jury trial and demanded financial compensation for pain and suffering experienced as a result of the surgeries. Cetrulo, a well-known plastic surgeon, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. MGH has been named as a defendant for retaining Cetrulo and has denied any experimental gender-affirming surgeries being performed in their program, stating that they strive to ensure patients are fully informed about risks and complications before procedures.

Key Takeaways:

• Two anonymous transgender patients have filed medical malpractice lawsuits against former HMS professor Curtis L. Cetrulo and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) for botched phalloplasty surgeries in 2021 and 2022.
• The plaintiffs allege that the surgeries, which involved constructing penises using abdominal tissue, were too experimental and that Cetrulo did not inform them of the possible risks.
• Both patients experienced severe pain, permanent scarring, disfigurement, and disability, with one patient requiring additional surgeries and having to have his penis removed altogether.
• Cetrulo, a well-known plastic surgeon, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
• MGH is named as a defendant for retaining Cetrulo, and has denied performing experimental gender-affirming surgeries in their program.
• The patients have requested a jury trial and demanded financial compensation for pain and suffering experienced as a result of the surgeries.
• Phalloplasties have become more common in the last decade, with most procedures using tissue from the forearm instead of the abdomen.

Statistics:

• At least two transgender patients have filed medical malpractice lawsuits against Curtis L. Cetrulo and MGH in relation to botched phalloplasty surgeries.
• The lawsuits allege that the patients experienced severe pain, permanent scarring, disfigurement, and disability as a result of the surgeries.
• One patient required additional surgeries and had to have his penis removed altogether.
• MGH's transgender surgery program claims to have extensive expertise in performing advanced gender-affirming surgery and uses the latest medical technology to ensure optimal outcomes.

Sources:

• The Crimson (no date provided)
• Curtis L. Cetrulo, MD (no date provided)
• Mass General Brigham (no date provided)
• "Phalloplasties become more common in last decade" (no date provided)