SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — A South Dakota prison inmate is suing the hospital where he was circumcised as a newborn, saying he only recently became aware that he’d undergone the procedure and that it robbed him of his sexual prowess.
Dean Cochrun, 28, is asking for $1,000 in compensatory and punitive damages. He also asks in the lawsuit that his foreskin be restored “in the hopes I could feel whole again,” though he acknowledged that he didn’t expect such a restoration to be anything more than aesthetic.
Cochrun, who is imprisoned in Sioux Falls on a kidnapping conviction, filed the federal lawsuit Friday against Sanford Hospital. Cochrun claims that an “unknown doctor” at the then-named Sioux Valley Hospital misled his mother to believe that the procedure was medically necessary. Cochrun argues that the procedure was unnecessary, unethical and without medical benefit.
“I was recently made aware of the fact that I had been (circumcised) and that … I was robbed of sensitivity during sexual intercourse as well as the sense of security and well-being I am entitled to in my person,” he argued in the lawsuit, adding that neither he nor his partners would “have that sensitivity during sexual intercourse and have a normal sex life.”
Cochrun isn’t represented by a lawyer in the lawsuit, which includes a letter from Sanford officials responding to a letter requesting that his foreskin be replaced. Patient relations representative DyAnn Smith replied that Sanford would not pay for the procedure.
“There will be no further correspondence about this matter,” she wrote.
No one asked me if I wanted to keep mine or not. They just went ahead and removed it. I got over it. I have never noticed any prowness problems.
It hurt me so bad I didn’t walk for a year.
I think only the person attached to the foreskin should be making a decision about circumcision – and only when the person in question is old enough to make an informed decision. That being said….how is it that this man just now came to realize that he was circumcised as a newborn?
I do not understand why this is common practice. This is cruel and pointless. IMHO it should be outlawed.
You just can’t make this stuff up. LOL
I needed that. Thanks crazy south dakota kidnapper man.
What I find interesting is that he values his lack of “sensitivity” at a mere $1000. I wonder how he came up with that figure?
He was just recently made aware? Does he not look at himself ever?
Perhaps he didn’t have anything to compare the little feller with, thinking he’d lose his sexual identity if he looked at another man.