A family in Texas is suing a Houston-based doctor after their 4-year-old son underwent an “unintentional vasectomy” during surgery.
The child was reportedly in the hospital for hernia surgery at the time of the incident, according to Randy Sorels, the family’s personal injury lawyer. He told Fox4 that part of the procedure involved working near the child’s groin.
The lawyer claims that the surgeon “cut out the wrong part of the anatomy”.
“We believe that the surgeon accidentally cut the vas deferens, one of the tubes that carries reproductive sperm in it. This could affect this young man for the rest of his life, “Mr Sorels told the broadcaster.
Vasectomy is usually sought after by men as a form of birth control. Surgeries are usually safe outpatient procedures and are relatively inexpensive and highly effective in preventing pregnancy. Although once a permanent procedure, many vasectomies can be reversed and, in some very rare cases, the seminal vesicles may actually grow back together.
The surgeon who operated on the boy has no history of abuse and has never received any negative reports about their work.
Mistakes like that of a young child are usually very rare due to the precautions built into the operation.
“This is not a common mistake at all,” Mr Sorels said. “Before the doctor cuts or cuts off any part of the anatomy, they must positively identify what that anatomy is and then cut it. Here the doctor was unable to identify exactly the anatomy that had to be excised. Unfortunately, cut his vas deferens. This was not established until he was sent for pathology.
The lawyer said that his and his family’s main concern was the boy’s health. They are considering options for reversing the procedure, but the lawyer noted that this will require the boy to undergo more surgery.
“The family’s biggest concern is how this can affect their child physically, their ability to have children in the future and emotionally,” Mr Sorels said. “[Along with] you need to explain this to a potential partner with whom you will have children. “
Mr Sorels fears the four-year-old will spend the rest of his life in fertility problems.
Texas Children’s Hospital said in a statement that it could not comment on the incident.
“The top priority of Texas Children’s Hospital is the health and well-being of our patient,” it said. “Due to patient privacy requirements, we are unable to comment.”
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