The man’s wife received compensation as well after he was left with permanent sexual dysfunction.
A 36-year-old man from Valencia, Spain, has been awarded a significant compensation after enduring a 30-hour erection that doctors failed to properly address, leading to permanent damage. The incident, which began as a medical emergency, ended with a botched series of treatments that changed his life forever.
The man first sought help at a health center in Albaida, reporting that his erection had not subsided for four hours. According to Spanish news outlets, he was diagnosed with priapism. The Mayo Clinic defines priapism as a painful and prolonged erection that isn’t necessarily linked to sexual arousal, though it can sometimes be caused by it.
If it isn’t treated quickly, complications include erectile dysfunction
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Priapism occurs when blood is unable to properly flow out of the veins in the penis. This condition demands urgent medical attention to prevent severe complications, including tissue damage and the potential for long-term erectile dysfunction.
Despite the diagnosis, the man claimed in his medical negligence case that there were unacceptable delays in receiving the necessary treatment. He alleged that his condition was mishandled, particularly during surgery at the hospital he visited for help.
By the time he and his wife went to Ontinyent Hospital—20 hours after the problem first began—his condition had already worsened significantly.
The patient said there were delays at the Valencian hospital
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The man explained that at Ontinyent Hospital, he was told he would have to wait even longer to see a urologist. Frustrated and in pain, he was eventually referred to another facility, the Lluis Alcanyis Hospital in Xativa.
When he arrived at the second hospital, he was admitted with a fever, which is sometimes a symptom associated with priapism. Following standard procedures, the doctors drained blood from his penis and scheduled him for an appointment to receive a malleable penile prosthesis. This type of semi-rigid implant is designed to help men regain sexual function and relieve the intense discomfort caused by priapism.
However, the patient later reported that the prosthesis was poorly fitted and eventually came out, requiring another surgical procedure to fix the issue. This second operation marked another painful chapter in what had already been a traumatic ordeal.
In his pursuit of compensation, the man stated that medical professionals failed to treat him adequately across the various hospitals he visited. As a result, he now suffers from permanent erectile dysfunction, ongoing pain in his left leg, and reduced sensitivity and strength in his right arm. These complications have left a lasting impact on his physical health and quality of life, according to reports from The Olive Press.
He alleged the surgery at another hospital failed
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After a lengthy legal battle spanning four years, the regional government in Valencia was ordered to pay the man $50,000 in compensation. His wife also received an additional $5,000 in damages for the emotional toll the ordeal took on her.
The couple described their struggle for justice as exhausting but necessary, given the extent of the negligence they experienced. Jorge Sanchez, a urologist not directly involved in the case, commented on the situation, saying: “Four or five hours of priapism can cause damage to the penis tissue and 20 hours later the risk is higher.”
Dr. Sanchez further explained the severity of priapism, stating: “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.”
He also warned about the long-term consequences of improper treatment, noting: “If they are ruptured the patient will no longer be able to have an erection and will require a prosthesis”, as reported by the Daily Mail.