Veteran Files Claim After Wrong Testicle Removed

[dholly]

"No, I said MY left, you idiot!"

Veteran Files Claim After Wrong Testicle Removed at Los Angeles VA Medical Center

Thursday , April 05, 2007
AP
LOS ANGELES —

An Air Force veteran has filed a federal claim after an operation at a Veterans Administration hospital in which a healthy testicle was removed instead of a potentially cancerous one.

Benjamin Houghton, 47, was to have had his left testicle removed June 14 at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center because there was a chance it could harbor cancer cells. It also was atrophied and painful.

But doctors mistakenly removed the right testicle, according to medical records and the claim, which seeks $200,000 for future care and unspecified damages. He still hasn't had the other testicle removed.

"At first I thought it was a joke," Houghton told the Los Angeles Times. "Then I was shocked. I told them, 'What do I do now?"'

Houghton, his wife, Monica, and their attorney, Dr. Susan Friery, said they hoped to get the VA's attention by going public with the situation.

Dr. Dean Norman, chief of staff for the Greater Los Angeles VA system, has formally apologized to Houghton and his wife.

"We are making every attempt that we can to care for Mr. Houghton, but it's in litigation, and that's all we can tell you," he said. The hospital changed practices as a result of the case, he added.

[gammawolf]

"The hospital changed practices as a result of the case," as in, we'll be sure to know our left from our right and practice our reading skills???

as if the VA hasn't had enough problems for their lack of care for GI's coming back

jesus, how the fuck do you mess this up?

and the veteran is being nice, only $200k??? shiieeeet, i put a high price on my balls. we're talkin' six zeroes here baby!

[GZire]

Holy smokes. Is there such a thing as a testicle transplant?

[mantisG35]

he literally should take all their balls out man ... there's nothing you can do to return that back. what kind of mistake is this?!

[GZire]

^^^Unfortunately one that military hospitals seem to make far too often.

[mantisG35]

issues have been raised recently tho, i know little information about it but i hear they're proactively working on improving that

[GZire]

We've had a string of issues like this at Tripler Hospital on Oahu. That the guy in charge was removed recently is really just bringing light to the fact that the military provides some pretty poor service to its people.

In the rest of the service if a guy messes up, he's going to pay for it. Seems like the medical guys don't have that same system of accountability.

[dholly]

Originally Posted by gammawolf

jesus, how the fuck do you mess this up?

Good question. I hate to jump to conclusions but ya think "atrophied" would be a pretty reasonable tip-off as to which needed the clippers, eh?

[Infiniti514]

damn I can't think of a worst tragedy

[dholly]

Originally Posted by Infiniti514

damn I can't think of a worst tragedy

Could have been wheeled into the gender reassignment operating room by mistake.

[mantisG35]

well they kind of did but didnt get the job finished!

[dholly]

Personally, I'd rather have a two plastic nuts and a working flagpole than a penectomy and addaslittome. Do those gender reassigned he-->shes actually have any feeling in that hollowed and turned inside-out, stuffed up yer taint new pseudo-vagi??? -shivers-

[mantisG35]

do you know the name of the operation of transforming ladies into men?

[GZire]

Well hopefully he gets the proper medical treatment and hormone therapy after this whole bad situation.

[Infiniti514]

Originally Posted by GZire

I hope to get the proper medical treatment and hormone therapy after my surgery.

huh?!?!?!?