Practice says ‘botched’ vasectomy claim has no basis

The claim that a “botched” vasectomy left Urology Nevada shooter Alan Frazier in poor health has no basis, according to the practice.

In an open letter posted on its website, Reno-based Urology Nevada said it had reviewed the care provided to Frazier.

“We find no basis to support any of the allegations made by this individual regarding his care or treatment. Additionally, research reported by national experts on vasectomy refutes his claims. We can neither understand nor explain his senseless and horrible actions,” the letter read. 

On Dec. 17, 2013, Frazier, 51, shot and killed urologist Charles G. Gholdoian, MD, and wounded Christine N. Lajeunesse, MD, another urologist at the practice, along with Shawntae Spears, a 20-year-old relative of a patient. Frazier then turned the gun on himself. A friend of Frazier’s had told the Reno Gazette-Journalthat complications from Frazier’s vasectomy had left him “so sick and weak that he could barely move,” the newspaper reported.

However, urologist Ira Sharlip, MD, of the University of California, San Francisco, disputed Frazier’s assertion that the vasectomy was the cause of his health problems.

"There are many very large studies that show that a vasectomy is not a risk factor for any longer-term health problems, and that's very clear," Dr. Sharlip told the paper.

In it letter, Urology Nevada said it “continues to cooperate with the authorities as they investigate this matter.”

“This tragedy took the life of one of our physicians, and seriously injured both another physician and the mother of one of our patients… We thank all of you who have stood beside us during this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family of the friend and colleague we lost. We offer our best wishes for a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured,” the letter read.

To get weekly news from the leading news source for urologists, subscribe to the Urology Times eNews.