A man left with an erection for 30 hours has been awarded £41,000 after accusing a Spanish hospital of malpractice.
The unnamed 36-year-old first sought help from a health centre in Albaida near the east coast city of Valencia four hours after his penis failed to return to its normal size.
He was diagnosed with priapism, which can happen after sexual arousal but also without it and in a worst-case scenario means blood can’t drain from the penis.
After the diagnosis he went to nearby Ontinyent Hospital but according to the claimant there was a delay in the treatment he needed.
The man made a second visit to the hospital with his anguished wife 20 hours after his problems started but is said to have been 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 which in some cases can accompany priapism along with other signs of infection.
Medics ended up draining the blood from his penis and he returned to hospital a few days later for an operation during which a malleable penile prosthesis was fitted.
But it sparked a new problem by coming out because it had been ‘poorly fitted’ and the patient required a second operation.
The regional government covering the Valencia area was ordered to pay compensation after experts the man complained to ruled he wasn’t properly treated and he was left with constant pain and problems getting and maintaining an erection because of medical malpractice.
His wife will also get compensation of around £4,200.
The couple are said to have endured a ‘lengthy battle’ before being told they would receive their five-figure compensation payout following their ordeal.
Jorge Sanchez, a urologist who was not 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.
‘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.
