A 74-year-old metro Atlanta man says a "free" erectile-dysfunction consultation at a Dunwoody men's clinic spiraled into an $11,500 treatment package and a no-refund contract. He says the clinic gave him a single injection, helped set up financing and then went quiet when he tried to cancel. Local urologists say that sales-first formula, heavy on guarantees and quick credit approvals and light on basic prescriptions, is a familiar pattern at cash-pay ED storefronts.
What the patient says
According to Atlanta News First, the man, identified as Calvin Pauling, responded to a radio ad promising a free consultation and first treatment at Priority Men’s Medical Center and later was presented with a no-refund agreement totaling $11,500. Atlanta News First reported that the paperwork they reviewed carried a nurse-practitioner signature, that staff helped him apply for a health-care credit card, and that he returned the first treatment but did not receive his money back. The outlet also reports that a Priority spokesman called a refund "100 percent reasonable," but Pauling says the clinic and its parent company still have not resolved the dispute.
Clinic marketing and local complaints
Priority Men’s Medical Center's website promises that "Your Initial Consultation and First Treatment Are COMPLETELY FREE" and touts quick, one-visit results, listing an address at 53 Perimeter Center East, Suite 120 in Perimeter Center. That upbeat marketing, from radio spots to testimonial pages, can collide with customer reviews that describe being billed for services they believed would not cost anything. The Better Business Bureau lists the Atlanta office and includes a mix of positive reviews and complaints about unexpected charges and billing disputes.
Why this keeps happening
The situation tracks with a broader pattern flagged by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which found hundreds of cash-pay clinics operating in Georgia and relatively few enforcement actions from the Georgia Composite Medical Board. The investigation by the paper says limited funding and a cautious approach inside the board have made it harder for regulators to rein in storefront clinics and unproven therapies, leaving patients with few options when something goes sideways.
Doctor's take
Dr. Charles Kaplan, a urologist with Georgia Urology, called the outcome "unfortunate" but not unusual, and told Atlanta News First that men typically should start with a family doctor and oral medications before moving on to injections. His practice and credentials are listed in provider directories such as WebMD, which identifies him as a Georgia Urology physician.
How to protect yourself
Before signing up for an expensive package, consumer advocates say patients should verify any named physician using the Georgia Composite Medical Board's license search tool at the Georgia Composite Medical Board website, ask for an itemized price list, get the refund policy in writing and seek a second opinion from a primary-care doctor. If you are billed for services you did not receive, you can file a dispute with the payment company and consider submitting a report through the Medical Board's Georgia Composite Medical Board consumer complaint portal.
The case serves as a blunt reminder to read every contract line by line and to loop a trusted clinician into decisions about ED care. Patients dealing with erectile-dysfunction concerns are urged to discuss affordable, evidence-based options with a primary-care provider or a board-certified urologist before committing to high-priced clinic plans.
