The man’s wife received compensation as well after he was left with permanent sexual dysfunction.
A Medical Emergency Gone Wrong
A 36-year-old man from Valencia, Spain, recently won a $50,000 compensation following a traumatic medical ordeal that left him with permanent damage. What started as a medical emergency turned into a life-altering experience due to a series of missteps by healthcare providers. His wife was also awarded $5,000 for the emotional toll the incident took on her.
The man’s nightmare began with a 30-hour erection caused by priapism, a painful and prolonged condition requiring urgent medical attention. Instead of receiving timely and adequate care, he faced significant delays and errors, resulting in permanent sexual dysfunction and other long-term health complications.
Understanding Priapism: A Serious Condition
Priapism occurs when blood becomes trapped in the penis, preventing it from flowing out of the veins. While it’s not always associated with sexual arousal, it is extremely painful and demands immediate treatment to avoid severe consequences like tissue damage and erectile dysfunction.
The Mayo Clinic emphasizes that priapism lasting more than four hours is a medical emergency. Delays in treatment can lead to irreversible damage to the penile tissue, affecting a patient’s sexual health and quality of life.
A Series of Delays and Errors
The man first sought help at a health center in Albaida after enduring a four-hour erection. He was quickly diagnosed with priapism, but according to his negligence claim, the required treatment was delayed at every stage.
By the time he arrived at Ontinyent Hospital—20 hours into his ordeal—his condition had worsened significantly. At this point, he was told he would need to wait even longer to see a urologist. Frustrated and in excruciating pain, he was referred to another facility, Lluis Alcanyis Hospital in Xativa.
Upon arrival, he was admitted with a fever, a symptom sometimes linked to priapism. Doctors drained blood from his penis as part of standard procedure and later fitted him with a malleable penile prosthesis, designed to restore sexual function and alleviate discomfort.
Complications and Further Surgeries
The prosthesis, however, was poorly fitted and eventually failed, requiring yet another surgical procedure. This second operation added to the patient’s physical and emotional trauma. He later reported experiencing ongoing pain in his left leg, reduced sensitivity in his right arm, and permanent erectile dysfunction—all consequences of the delayed and inadequate treatment he received.
According to reports from The Olive Press, the patient described his pursuit of compensation as exhausting but necessary to hold medical professionals accountable for their negligence.
The Outcome: Compensation After Four Years
After a legal battle spanning four years, the regional government in Valencia was ordered to compensate the man $50,000 for his suffering. His wife received $5,000 for the emotional distress she endured throughout the ordeal.
The couple expressed relief over the resolution but lamented the exhausting process. They emphasized the need for accountability to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Expert Insights: The Importance of Timely Treatment
Jorge Sanchez, a urologist not involved in the case, commented on the severity of priapism and the dangers of delayed treatment. “Four or five hours of priapism can cause damage to the penis tissue, and 20 hours later the risk is even higher,” he explained.
Dr. Sanchez further highlighted the extreme measures sometimes required to treat prolonged priapism. “If the erection continues, the only solution is to break two tubes in the penis called the corpora cavernosa, which fill with blood to make it stiff during an erection. If they are ruptured, the patient will no longer be able to have an erection and will require a prosthesis,” he said.
A Cautionary Tale
This case underscores the critical importance of timely medical intervention for emergencies like priapism. Delays and errors not only caused the patient permanent physical damage but also disrupted his and his wife’s quality of life.
For others, this story serves as a reminder to seek immediate care for medical emergencies and to advocate for oneself when healthcare providers fail to act promptly.