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A Houston family is suing Texas Children’s Hospital after a 4-year-old child was given an “unintentional vasectomy” during a surgical procedure.
According to Fox 11 LA, an attorney, Randy Sorrels, representing the family says the child was supposed to only have surgery for a hernia in the groin area but was also given a vasectomy.
Sorrels stated:
You expect things to happen in life, but not unnecessarily at the hands of a surgeon, who simply cut the wrong piece of anatomy. The surgeon, we think, cut accidentally the vas deferens, one of the tubes that carries reproductive semen in it. It could affect this young man for the rest of his life.
Sorrel also detailed what happened.
It’s not a common mistake at all. Before a doctor transects or cuts any part of the anatomy, they are supposed to positively identify what that anatomy is and then cut. Here, the doctor failed to accurately identify the anatomy that needed to be cut. Unfortunately, he cut his vas deferens. That wasn’t found out until it was sent in for pathology.
The unnamed doctor hasn’t had any documented malpractice lawsuits, Fox 11 LA also reports.
It’s also reported that Sorrels believes the child may be able to have surgery to ensure he can have kids, but that will require more surgery.
The family’s biggest concern is how this might affect their child physically, on the ability to have children in the future, and emotionally. [Along with] having to explain this to a potential partner who you are going to have children with.
Texas Children’s Hospital released a statement and said:
Texas Children’s Hospital’s top priority is the health and well-being of our patients. Due to patient privacy requirements, we are unable to comment.
Roomies, how would you handle this situation.
