Penis amputated But no compensation

Complaint dismissed: No compensation for penile amputation

04/12/2015

In a Bavarian patient, a painful long-term ache and an incipient septicemia were diagnosed late. As a result, the penis and a lower leg had to be amputated. The Higher Regional Court Munich has now decided that the man is entitled to no compensation.

Family doctor does not initially diagnose the disease
In April 2009, Sebastian S. (35) from Rosenheim went to the family doctor with complaints such as pain in the abdomen, penile pain and flank pain. This sent him to a urologist, who initially prescribed him painkillers and anti-inflammatories and later an antibiotic. As it turned out that this did not help and the patient turned back to the doctor, said this according to lawyer Stephan Roessler: "Before his penis falls off, he should just go to the hospital," reports the Munich "tz". Sebastian S. then went to another urologist, who immediately diagnosed him with the diagnosis of priapism - a painful permanent erection - and the onset of sepsis (blood poisoning) at the Rosenheim Hospital.

Doctors had to amputate the penis and lower leg
According to the information, the patient fell into a coma, got pneumonia and a coagulation disorder, kidneys failed. Tissues in the lower leg and in the penis died, whereupon the doctors had to amputate. A total of 14 operations he had to endure. Since then, the now 35-year-old has daily pain, sitting in a wheelchair, is 100 percent disabled and lost his job as a warehouse. The relationship with his girlfriend, with whom he has a daughter, went to pieces.

Action for damages and compensation for pain and sorrow dismissed
Sebastian S. finally sued the urologist. After the district court of Traunstein could not see any treatment error in the first instance and dismissed the complaint, the patient had been appealed to the Higher Regional Court (OLG) in Munich. But the judges at the OLG also recognized no error and rejected the lawsuit to 767,000 euros in damages and compensation. Judge Thomas Steiner stated at the verdict that a long trial had come to an end, but: "What does not end is that you're in a wheelchair, that you're sick." Everyone who heard about the story was appalled. Sebastian S. said, "My intention was not to get the doctor ready. I just wanted justice to prevail. "

Painful stiffening of the limb
A persistent erection (priapism) is a painful stiffening of the limb that is not due to sexual arousal and persists for at least two hours. The blood that flows into the penis during stiffening can no longer drain naturally. After just a few hours, damage to the cavernoskeletal tissue can occur as a result if no medical measures are taken. After about one to two days, the cavernosal tissue is completely destroyed, so that a stiffening of the limb is no longer possible (erectile dysfunction). The causes of priapism often remain unclear. The triggers include neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, blood disorders, injuries such as pelvic fracture, some medications and drug use. (Ad)

: Michael Bührke