Inmate Sues Hospital After Learning He Was Circumcised Decades Ago

By Erin Sherbert Mon., Apr. 16 2012 at 3:44 PM

Dean called. He wants his foreskin back.

Who better to serve as the poster child for how circumcision creates a lifetime of hardship than a convicted criminal behind bars?

We have to say we were shocked to read that a South Dakota inmate was shocked when he recently discovered that he's circumcised and has been since he was a newborn. Naturally, this new information enlightened 28-year-old Dean Cochrun, explaining why he's only been a good -- not great -- lover all his adult life. As a result, he's suing the hospital who snipped his foreskin and robbed "him of his sexual prowess."

According to press reports Cochrun says that the doctors are solely responsible for stealing his sensitivity during sexual intercourse "as well as the sense of security and well-being I am entitled to in my person."

Not only does he want $1,000 in compensation, but he wants doctors to put his foreskin back where they found it.

Cochrun, who is serving time in a Sioux Falls prison for kidnapping, filed the federal lawsuit Friday against Sanford Hospital, claiming an "unknown doctor" at the then-named Sioux Valley Hospital duped his mother into believing that the foreskin removal was medically necessary. Cochrun argues that the procedure was unnecessary, unethical, and has had no medical benefits.

Cochrun isn't giving up; he argues that he's still got plenty of time to have a normal sex life, whether he's in prison or not.

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Tags:

circumcision, Dean Cochrun, South Dakota inmate

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Ronald Goldman, Ph.D.

Studies show that circumcision causes significant pain and trauma, behavioral and neurological changes in infants, potential parental stress from persistent crying (colic) of infants, disrupted bonding between parent and child, and risk of surgical complications. Other consequences of circumcision include loss of a natural, healthy, functioning body part, reduced sexual pleasure, potential psychological problems, and unknown negative effects that have not been studied.

Some circumcised men resent that they are circumcised. Sexual anxieties, reduced emotional expression, low self-esteem, avoidance of intimacy, and depression are also reported. Some doctors refuse to perform circumcisions because of ethical reasons. Relying on the presumed authorities (e.g., American Academy of Pediatrics or doctors who echo AAP views) is not sufficient (see http://www.circumcision.org/mi.... For more information see http://www.circumcision.org.

Hugh Intactive

Good lusk to him! He is just as much wronged as anyone else in that position. (Equal justice under law, remember?) He may be an inmate now, but sooner or later he'll be released and want a (hetero)sex life. No two circumcisions are the same and we have no way to judge what may have gone wrong in his case. His financial claim is very modest.

Roland Day

This suit is not as crazy as it sounds. One individual who was circumcised in New York brought a suit against the doctor who did it and the hospital where it was done and received an out-of-court settlement from both plaintiffs.

There is no legal authority for parents to grant surrogate consent to have a healthy body part amputated from a minor. When that action is challenged, the defendants usually want to settle.

Ron Low

He has a right to get the circumcison undone to the extent possible, but surgery is a terrible idea.

NON-surgical foreskin restoration (by tension) works great, and I think whether the hospital pays or not, under ADA the prison must accomodate any special needs his foreskin tugging regimen calls for.

Larry Mccarty

"he's suing the hospital who snipped his foreskin and robbed him of his sexual prowess" uh,,, dude is in PRISON! does he really want to be a super stud in there?.