The family of a 4-year-old boy has sued a Houston doctor for medical negligence after giving their son an "unintended" vasectomy during his hernia surgery.
Dr. Susan L. Jarosz recommended a right inguinal hernia repair for the boy who was complaining about a swelling on the right side of his scrotum. He was scheduled to undergo the hernia procedure in August 2021 at the Texas Children's Hospital.
After the surgery, the doctor advised the family, alongside the hospital's risk management team, of what happened at the operating table. Jarosz admitted that she cut the vas deferens, the tube that carries the semen during reproduction, per ABC 13.
She apologized to the family and explained the short and long-term consequences of the unintended vasectomy. This meant that when the boy becomes an adult and decides to have his own kids, he will need "artificial reproductive procedures," per the family's lawyer, Randy Sorrels.
Parents Faced With a Difficult Task
In June 2022, the family filed the lawsuit against Jarosz and the Texas Children's Hospital. Sorrels said that it was impossible for a surgeon to make a mistake and cut the wrong part of the boy's anatomy since a hernia surgery is a simple and standard procedure.
In a statement via Fox News, Sorrels, a personal injury lawyer, said that he had seen similar cases of unintended vasectomy but not for a 4-year-old boy. Sorrels alleged that the doctor "breached the standard of care" when she failed to properly separate the vas deferens from the hernia sac before surgically removing the tubes.
"That's very rare, but it's pretty simple," the lawyer said. "You properly identify the anatomy before you cut it."
Sorrels also stated that while the family accepted the doctor's apology, they wanted full accountability. The parents will be faced with the difficult task of explaining to their son why he will not be able to have kids by natural means. He could face many challenges with artificial reproduction, which could affect his relationship with his partner.
The family is suing for $500,000 in damages, the highest amount a particular party may get for such a case. Texas Children's Hospital, which is ranked as the second-best hospital for kids in the U.S., has refused to comment on the lawsuit with respect to the privacy of the patient.
However, according to Daily Mail, the doctor is not an employee of the hospital.
Hernia Repair for Kids
An inguinal hernia repair happens when the intestines push through an opening of the inguinal canal in the lower part of the abdomen. The problem doesn't usually go away by itself; thus, surgery is often recommended.
The surgical procedure may last between 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the doctor's skills. A pediatric urology doctor might also have to be in the operating room to ensure that the child's reproductive organs and urinary tract are not affected during the surgery.
While girls might also need an inguinal hernia repair, the procedure is most common among boys. This procedure is elective, which means it may be scheduled at the convenience of the parents. However, surgery may be an emergency in some cases, especially if the patient has been struggling with pain.
