LOS ANGELES - An Air Force veteran has filed a federal claim after an operation at a Veterans Administration hospital in which a healthy testicle was removed instead of a potentially cancerous one.


Benjamin Houghton, 47, was to have had his left testicle removed June 14 at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center because there was a chance it could harbor cancer cells. It also was atrophied and painful.

But doctors mistakenly removed the right testicle, according to medical records and the claim, which seeks $200,000 for future care and unspecified damages. He still hasn't had the other testicle removed.

"At first I thought it was a joke," Houghton told the Los Angeles Times. "Then I was shocked. I told them, 'What do I do now?'"

Houghton, his wife, Monica, and their attorney, Dr. Susan Friery, said they hoped to get the VA's attention by going public with the situation.

Dr. Dean Norman, chief of staff for the Greater Los Angeles VA system, has formally apologized to Houghton and his wife.

"We are making every attempt that we can to care for Mr. Houghton, but it's in litigation, and that's all we can tell you," he said. The hospital changed practices as a result of the case, he added.


His new nickname is Mr. Lucky

I hope he gets a million dollars. How could they take the wrong one when the cancerous one was atrophied. Something wrong with that surgeon.

I've heard of people writing "Yes" and "no" on and arm or leg etc. before going into surgery just so this kind of thing doesn't happen.

is there such a thing as testicle transplants?

I dont know but I can tell you one guy who wont be volunteering to donate any

Wonder what there do with the other testicle? Since the other one may have been harbor cancer cells.
No amount of money is going to make up for this horrible mistake.

Just look who was the culprit too- the great VA. The same organization that allows their wokers to sit all day on the internet and print out stuff as well as take off work so much.

According to a Sex and the City episode, there are implants available. I don't see why they couldn't do a skin graft around the implant.

im sure they could put something in there (big marble) as a prosthetic but i dont know if they could transplant one and make it work. Good question actually. they might be able to do it

This is one of those times, I'm glad, I'm not a man.

<puts on nerdy glasses and pocket protector> Yeah there are prosthetic testes. However, if you have both removed, there will be a huge drop in testosterone production, as the testes are the major producer of testosterone. With out testosterone, the typical male characteristics diminish, as well as the ability to have successful sexual intercourse. In some cases, the male will produce breasts and other female characteristics, such as a higher pitched voice and the need to constantly nag.

and the feeling that they have to do everything without help of a male!

so here is the real answer:
testicle transplant - 3rd paragraph

Have you ever had to visit the VA for treatment Flipper? If not, then STFU, this is a tragic mistake, for which I'm sure there will be consequences. I get very tired of you bashing every civil servant, it gets old. I have not as of yet had to utilize the VA but am sure I will in the future, and look forward to it.

The VA gets a bad rap already. This happens just as often in private practice

I dont bash Bruchey- hes a stud. Why doesnt the VA get rid of people like I mentioned though?

It hurts just to read this story. He is due >> than 200K in my opinion. I hope they can make him function okay.

Answer my question:

`

Actually yes but not the one in Martinsburg one in oklahoma city. they didnt help with anything though.

You're beyond help.

Where is that off the wall comment coming from? As this topic doesn't have nothing to do with Mr. Bruchey.

This is a about a horriable mistake. You want to crack jokes about. Just goes to show you how sick you really are.
Have you ever worked at a VA Hospital? Probably not, so how would know. Employees sit around all day? I doubt very much that is true. Your just shooting things off the wall, what ever suit your sick fantasy.

Ok. city VA hospital = psych ward

Your bad samy0, but good

True story...on the phone with a stranger at work one day and he asked if he could speak to a man instead of me because he had trouble hearing high pitches.

Some people talk low on the phone too. Where you have to keep saying, "Speak up, I can't hear you."

Hey Heather,

He was telling the truth. Trust me on this one!

Really? I thought he was just making fun of my squeaky voice.

No, he wasn't. Most nerve damage in hearing loss causes High frequency loss. Happens to older people alot too.

I could always hear lower voices better than higher voices. Vowels are lower frequency. Easier to understand.

Enough already!