The man first sought help at a health center in Albaida, reporting that his erection had not subsided for four hours. According to Spanish news outlets, he was diagnosed with priapism. The Mayo Clinic defines priapism as a painful and prolonged erection that isn’t necessarily linked to sexual arousal, though it can sometimes be caused by it.
Despite the diagnosis, the man claimed in his medical negligence case that there were unacceptable delays in receiving the necessary treatment. He alleged that his condition was mishandled, particularly during surgery at the hospital he visited for help.
By the time he and his wife went to Ontinyent Hospital—20 hours after the problem first began—his condition had already worsened significantly.
When he arrived at the second hospital, he was admitted with a fever, which is sometimes a symptom associated with priapism. Following standard procedures, the doctors drained blood from his penis and scheduled him for an appointment to receive a malleable penile prosthesis. This type of semi-rigid implant is designed to help men regain sexual function and relieve the intense discomfort caused by priapism.
In his pursuit of compensation, the man stated that medical professionals failed to treat him adequately across the various hospitals he visited. As a result, he now suffers from permanent erectile dysfunction, ongoing pain in his left leg, and reduced sensitivity and strength in his right arm. These complications have left a lasting impact on his physical health and quality of life, according to reports from The Olive Press.
The couple described their struggle for justice as exhausting but necessary, given the extent of the negligence they experienced. Jorge Sanchez, a urologist not directly involved in the case, commented on the situation, saying: “Four or five hours of priapism can cause damage to the penis tissue and 20 hours later the risk is higher.”
He also warned about the long-term consequences of improper treatment, noting: “If they are ruptured the patient will no longer be able to have an erection and will require a prosthesis”, as reported by the Daily Mail.
