Man who had 30-hour erection wins £41k compensation after suing doctors – and his wife won £4k too
A MAN has been awarded £41,000 after a hospital botched a procedure on his penis - which days earlier had been erect for 30 hours.
His wife will also receive £4,000 after the couple accused the hospital of malpractice.
The unnamed 36-year-old man went to a health centre in his home town of Albaida, near the east coast city of Valencia in Spain, after his penis failed to return to its normal size.
He was diagnosed with priapism - a condition of the penis where it remains erect for hours and happens without sexual arousal or stimulation.
The man was told to go to Ontinyent Hospital where the doctors delayed treating him.
After no improvement for 20 hours following the first visit to the hospital, the man and his wife made another trip.
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But they were told he would have to wait to see a urologist with a "preferential appointment".
After complaining he was referred to another hospital where he ended up being admitted with a fever, one of the symptoms of priapism.
Medics ended up draining the blood from his penis.
Once the fever was brought under control, he was discharged, and a few days later underwent an operation for a malleable penile prosthetic - a medical device which is surgically inserted into the penis.
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It's used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in men who haven't responded to other forms of treatment, such as medication or vacuum erection devices.
But days after the surgery, the device "came out"; which according to the Valencian Community Legal Advice Council was down to "poor placement".
This resulted in the man needing a second operation.
He's now been left with permanent erectile dysfunction, as well as a loss of sensitivity and strength in his right arm, as well as pain in his left leg.
The regional government covering the Valencia area was ordered to pay compensation after it was ruled the man wasn't properly treated.
The man will get compensation of 4,900 euros (around £41,000), while his wife will get 5,000 euros (around £4,200).
The payout ends a four-year "lengthy battle" which began in 2020.
Jorge Sanchez, a urologist who wasn't involved in the case, told local media: "Four or five hours of priapism can cause damage to the penis tissue and 20 hours later the risk is higher.
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"If the erection continues, the only solution is break two tubes in the penis called the corpora cavernosa that 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."
What is priapism?
Priapism is a long-lasting painful erection and can cause permanent damage to your penis if not treated quickly.
The NHS recommends things you can try to help:
- try to go for a pee
- have a warm bath or shower
- drink lots of water
- go for a gentle walk
- try exercises, such as squats or running on the spot
- take painkillers like paracetamol if you need to
But:
- do not apply ice packs or cold water to your penis – this can make things worse, particularly if you have sickle cell disease
- do not have sex or masturbate – it will not make your erection go away
- do not drink alcohol
- do not smoke
If your erection lasts more than three to four hours you should call 999 or go to A&E.
An erection that lasts this long needs to be treated in hospital as soon as possible to avoid permanent damage to the penis.
Priapism often affects people with sickle cell disease.
Potential other causes include:
- blood-thinning medicines, like warfarin
- some antidepressants
- drugs, like cannabis and cocaine
- some medicines for high blood pressure
- other blood disorders, like thalassaemia and leukaemia
- some treatments for erectile dysfunction
Source: NHS