A California man was recently awarded 13 million dollars after a treatment at Vanderbilt University Medical Center went horribly wrong, making it necessary for physicians to amputate his penis. 

Arthur C. Tucker Jr., who was diagnosed with a swollen prostate in December of 1998, went into the hospital for a routine one-hour treatment, but came out with a badly burned penis after the microwave-style device malfunctioned. The device, known as the Pros-ta-tron system, involves channeling microwave-energy through a catheter in the urethra, in order to burn off excess prostate cells. Somehow, during Tucker's treatment, the device slipped, causing the waves to be directed at his penis, rather than the intended prostate. Tucker's penis was reportedly so badly burned, that he was bed-ridden for nearly a month. 32 days following the botched treatment, it had to be amputated.

The Food and Drug Administration approved the Pros-ta-tron Treatment in 1996. By early 2000, they had received over 30 reports of problems such as bleeding, infections, burns and impotence, as a result. Vanderbilt University Medical Center is still using the controversial device, but reports that they have altered their procedures somewhat