A method and an apparatus for delivering controlled heat independently on separate channels to perform ablation to treat benign prosthetic hypertrophy or hyperplasia (BPH). The dual channel power system provides independent control of radio frequency energy to each of two stylets protruding from a catheter into a human prostate through the urethra. The energy is independently transferred directly into the respective tissue around the stylets in such a manner as to provide respective tissue ablation without damage to surrounding tissues. Automatic shut-off of both channels occurs when any one of a number of surrounding areas to include the urethra or surrounding mass or the adjacent organs exceeds predetermined safe temperature limits. Automatic shut off of the individual channels occurs when the temperature of the tissue proximal to the respective stylet exceeds respective predetermined values. The dual channel system is microprocessor controlled and contains self-test startup and thermocouple autocalibration circuitry.