Bahraini sues doctor after son’s testicle mistakenly removed during surgery

TDT | Manama    

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

A Bahraini man has filed a lawsuit against a doctor who made a medical error that led to the removal of his son’s testicle.

The lawsuit demands that the doctor compensate the family with BD 100,000 for the physical and emotional damages they have suffered as a result of this mistake.

The court has decided to postpone the proceedings until the September 5 session to allow both parties to present their arguments.

According to the plaintiff's representative, the incident occurred in January 2019, when the child was 15 years old.

At that time, he experienced severe abdominal and testicular pain on the left side, accompanied by vomiting and nausea.

The father took him to a health centre, where they were directed to the doctor’s room. However, the doctor failed to conduct the necessary examinations typically performed in such cases.

Instead, she prescribed painkillers and anti-nausea medication before allowing them to leave the health center.

The pain worsened the following day, and the boy was taken to the emergency room at Salmaniya Medical Complex.

Upon admission, he underwent urine tests, x-rays, and other standard medical procedures, which revealed that he was suffering from testicular torsion.

Due to prolonged blood circulation blockage, emergency surgery was required to remove the left testicle while preserving the right one.

It became apparent that the doctor had only prescribed painkillers, neglecting the standard procedures that should have been followed for such symptoms, as the condition requires immediate treatment.

The testicular tissue could have been saved from damage if proper intervention had occurred within 4-6 hours.

An incorrect diagnosis and a lack of urgency in handling the patient resulted in the removal of his testicle.

Thanks to the prompt medical intervention by the medical staff at Salmaniya Medical Complex, the right testicle was saved.

The plaintiff lodged a complaint with the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA), and after more than two years of investigation, the medical error was confirmed.

The plaintiff’s representative highlighted the physical and emotional damages suffered by the entire family.

The patient’s academic performance was negatively affected as a result of this distressing incident, despite previously excelling academically.

It was also noted that the patient’s mother had to quit her job to care for her child and is currently unemployed.