Boy, four, is given an ‘accidental vasectomy’ during hernia surgery after doctor ‘cut the wrong piece of anatomy’: Family suing Houston hospital for medical negligence
- The boy, four, was having surgery at Texas Children’s Hospital to treat hernia when surgeon accidentally cut tube which carries reproductive semen in it
- His family are now suing the hospital and the surgeon for medical negligence
- It is feared the boy will need more surgery to be able to have children in future
The family of a four-year-old boy who was accidentally given an ‘unintended vasectomy’ during surgery in Texas are suing the hospital and a doctor for medical negligence.
The boy was having surgery to treat a hernia in the groin area in August 2021 when the surgeon at the Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston accidentally cut the tube which carries reproductive semen in it.
It is feared that the four-year-old will need more surgery to be able to have children – and even with medical advancements, the boy could always have fertility issues.
Randy Sorrels, an attorney in Houston who is representing the boy’s family, said the error during surgery could affect the boy ‘for the rest of his life’.
The boy was having surgery to treat a hernia in the groin area in August 2021 when the surgeon at the Texas Children’s Hospital (file image) in Houston accidentally cut the tube which carries reproductive semen in it
He told Fox 4 News: ‘You expect things to happen in life, but not necessarily at the hands of a surgeon, who simply cut the wrong piece of anatomy.
‘The surgeon, we think, cut accidentally the vas deferens, one of the tubes that carries reproductive semen in it. It could affect this young man for the rest of his life.’
The vas deferens, or sperm duct, carries sperm from the testicles to the urethra – but once cut, it is unable to carry out this process.
Records reveal the surgeon who carried out the procedure does not have a history of malpractice and no issues have been reported before.
It is feared that the four-year-old will need more surgery to be able to have children – and even with medical advancements, the boy could always have fertility issues (stock image)
Sorrels added: ‘It’s not a common mistake at all. Before a doctor transects or cuts any part of the anatomy, they are supposed to positively identify what that anatomy is and then cut.
‘Here, the doctor failed to accurately identify the anatomy that needed to be cut. Unfortunately, cut his vas deferens. That wasn’t found out until it was sent in for pathology.’
Sorrels said the family hopes that advancements in medical technology will allow the four-year-old to have children when he is older – but that would require further surgery.
‘The family’s biggest concern is how this might affect their child physically, on the ability to have children in the future, and emotionally,’ said Sorrells.
‘[Along with] having to explain this to a potential partner who you are going to have children with.’
A spokesperson from Texas Children’s Hospital said in a statement: ‘Texas Children’s Hospital’s top priority is the health and well-being of our patient. Due to patient privacy requirements, we are unable to comment.’
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