The patient, who had his bad testicle removed, was awarded compensation of 800,000 euros.
For having operated on the bad testicle of Steven Hanes, an American of 54 years, a urologist and the hospital where he works will have to pay him 810,000 euros in damages.
The facts date back to June 2013. Suffering from chronic pain in the right testicle for more than 15 years, the 50-year-old consulted Dr. Valley Spencer Long at JC Blair Memorial Hospital (Pennsylvania).
The 77-year-old specialist then advised him to have an operation to remove the diseased testicle. But now, on D-day, the surgeon made a mistake and excised the left testicle. Steven Hanes noticed the medical error when he woke up.
During the trial, the patient’s lawyer, Braden Lepisto, assured that there were treatment options other than surgery. “Steven wanted to ease his pain. Four years later, he continues to suffer. The pains are even more frequent, ”he told Pennlive.
Several pursuits
The lawyer also added that his client had developed a “disabling fear” of doctors. If Steven Hanes had surgery, he would have to be on hormone therapy for the rest of his life. A step that he is not yet ready to take.
Arguments which seem to have convinced the jury made up of 11 women and 1 man. It only took him 80 minutes to reach a verdict. The members of the jury notably denounced the “casual irresponsibility” of the surgeon.
Today, Dr. Long no longer performs surgery. But he should be back in court very soon. A family, defended by the firm of Me Lepisto, accuses him of having committed professional misconduct resulting in death.
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