“17-year-old young man mis-diagnosed in Dublin Hospital with stomach upset, Hospital failed to diagnose symptoms of twisted testicle”.

Piarais Neary at PBN Litigation acted for a young man “Imran” who was Seventeen Years of age who was taken by way of ambulance to a Dublin Hospital in the early hours of a Wednesday morning in June 2021.

On admission to the A&E  Imran had pain in his abdominal area with complaints of dull aching pain in the groin. 

The Accident and Emergency Doctor carried out an abdominal check on Imran and on examination of the testis revealed no abnormal  or sensitivity or swelling.  Imran was discharged with pain relief and a suspected bout of gastritis.

Imran returned home and on Friday afternoon was readmitted to hospital by way of ambulance in extreme pain and admitted to A&E.

In A&E the doctors identified that his testicles were twisted and immediately he was sent for an emergency ultrasound. 

The ultrasound confirmed that the testicles were twisted, and the left testicle had lost blood flow and was now likely to be necrotic / dead.

Imran underwent a procedure known as an Orchidectomy and his left testicle was removed. 

Imran was unhappy with his treatment at the hospital and felt that he had been mis-diagnosed on the Wednesday when he initially presented for treatment. 

Imran attended our offices to investigate if he could pursue a medical negligence action against the hospital. 

On foot of instructions from Imran we obtained a copy of his medical records from the Dublin Hospital, and we then briefed an expert in the UK to review the records.

We initially received a negative report in respect of the case from the Expert in the UK on the basis that if the Doctors examination on the Wednesday had been correct then there may not have been any symptoms of the testicles having been twisted at that time. The symptoms may only have become chronic on the Thursday. 

By the time the client arrived on the Friday in extreme pain it is likely that the testicles were already necrotic and likely to be unsavable. 

Therefore, although there may have been negligence in the failure to diagnose the initial twisted testicle by the time he arrived into hospital the damage would have been un-repairable. 

Our client was unhappy with the response from the UK Expert and we at PBN Litigation a  Consultant Radiologist in order to review the ultrasound scan that was carried out on the Friday of the client’s admission to the hospital.

On review of the scan our Consultant Radiologist determined that there was blood flow in both testicles at the time on the admission on the Friday and had the Consultant Urologist taken swifter action the testicle may have been saved. 

We issued proceedings* on behalf of the client in the High Court in Dublin. 

The hospital admitted liability in respect of the matter and the case proceeded as an assessment of damages only. 

In addition to the physical injuries that our client sustained  he also suffered psychologically. 

The case ultimately settled for a sum of €60,000.00 and Imran was frustrated by what had occurred but found solace in instructing us to pursue the matter on his behalf.  

If you would like further advice on a similar matter, please do not hesitate to contact the team at PBN Litigation.