Man found guilty of injuring woman during castration

[Dave (imported)]

Man found guilty of injuring woman during castration

Wednesday, July 07, 2004

By Jim McKinnon, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/04189/342803.stm

Doug Lenhart is a learned man, but he's no physician, a fact he

admitted in a guilty plea yesterday to charges that he posed as a doctor

and seriously injured a McKeesport woman seeking a gender change

operation.

Lenhart, who has a doctorate in business administration, last year

answered an Internet ad from the desperate, 45-year-old woman seeking to

have her male genitalia removed.

The botched operation was performed Sept. 12 in the woman's dining

room. Lenhart, 48, had suggested doing it in a hotel because his medical

facilities were not available.

Without the use of anesthesia, Lenhart began removing the testicles

when the woman began bleeding profusely and passing in and out of

consciousness because of the pain, Assistant District Attorney Janet

Necessary said yesterday.

A friend called 911 and Lenhart left the residence before police and

paramedics arrived. The woman spent two days recovering in the

hospital.

Lenhart, who said he is from Kansas, had been charged with two counts

of aggravated assault and unauthorized practice of medicine or surgery.

Necessary agreed to withdraw one count of aggravated assault in

exchange for Lenhart's plea.

Common Pleas Judge John A. Zottola set sentencing for Sept. 30.

Lenhart told police that he has performed such surgeries in the past on

people and animals without complications.

Zottola continued Lenhart's bail and allowed him to return to Kansas

pending sentencing.

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(Jim McKinnon can be reached at [email protected] or

412-263-1939.)