Wichita County man sues clinic, doctors after sex organ removed

Wichita County man sues clinic, doctors after sex organ removed Associated Press

WICHITA FALLS -- A mechanic is suing a clinic and two doctors, claiming they removed his penis and testicles without consulting him after they mistakenly thought he had cancer.

Hurshell Ralls, 67, seeks an unspecified amount in his negligence lawsuit filed against the Clinics of North Texas in Wichita Falls, Dr. John Stephen Dryden and Dr. Farid G. Khoury. The civil case is set for trial Aug. 25.

Ralls, who said he had a normal sex life with his wife before the 1999 amputation, said he remains angry with his doctors.

"I don't think they should have played God, myself," Ralls said Wednesday. "I'd love to have had a second opinion."

Ralls said Dryden started treating him 15 years ago for kidney infections caused by lifelong bladder problems. Since he was in his mid-20s, Ralls said, he has urinated into a bag through a catheter attached to his ureters, the tubes carrying urine from the kidneys to the bladder.

Ralls said he went in for surgery in November 1999 after Dryden said a biopsy showed he had bladder cancer. Dryden and Khoury, who assisted in the surgery, never mentioned that the cancer could be spreading and that they might have to remove other organs, Ralls said.

In a February deposition, Dryden told Ralls' attorneys that while removing Ralls' bladder, he determined the cancer had spread to the penis.

"I was the one looking at it, and I've seen it. I mean, it was cancer," Dryden testified.

He said he did not take tissue samples to test for cancer because "I did not feel, in my medical judgment, that they were worthwhile."

Ralls' attorney Steve Briley said such tests could have been done in 30 minutes in the same clinic.

Briley said a Dallas doctor looking at cell slides later found that Ralls did not have penile cancer.

Ralls and his wife of 35 years, Thelma, contend that even if he had penile cancer, it did not require immediate action. The couple said the doctors should have stopped operating, done a biopsy on penile tissue and discussed treatment options with them.

He has not had reconstructive surgery because there is not enough tissue to do it, Briley said.

The couple said they don't care how much money they might receive from the lawsuit but want to send a message that doctors should consult with patients before doing such a life-altering procedure.

"They took a part of his life. It has affected him, affected me and affected our whole family," Thelma Ralls said.

Neither Dryden nor Khoury have been disciplined or had license interruptions, according to the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners. Complaints or investigations that don't result in disciplinary actions, however, are not made public, board spokeswoman Jane McFarland said.

Ralls did not file a complaint with the state board because of his pending lawsuit, Briley said.

Penile cancer is rare in America because most men are circumcised, and those who contract it are usually over the age of 60, according to the American Cancer Society. Penile cancer occurs in about one in 100,000 men in the United States, the group says.

Dr. Bruce Blank, a Portland, Ore., urologist who has no connection to the Texas case, said cancer of the outer layers of the penis is different than cancer of the urethra, which is more common in men who have had other surgeries and scarring in that area.

He said options include chemotherapy, radiation or removing part of the penis, depending on what the doctor and patient feel would be most effective.

But treatment is based on whether the cancer is in the penis or urethra and how advanced and aggressive the disease is, said Blank, a member of the American Cancer Society National Assembly and the organization's Prostate Cancer Task Force.

"As shocking as it may sound, (amputation) is a reasonable option for a patient who has an aggressive penile cancer," Blank said. "Removing the penis or part of the penis can be truly lifesaving."

Joe was moderately successful in his career, but as he got older he was
increasingly hampered by incredible headaches.
When his personal hygiene and love life started to suffer, he sought
medical help.
After being referred from one specialist to another, he finally came
across a doctor who solved the problem.
"The good news is I can cure your headaches... The bad news is that it
will require castration.

You have a very rare condition which causes your testicles to press up
against the base of your spine.
The pressure creates one hell of a headache. The only way to relieve the
pressure is to remove the testicles."
Joe was shocked and depressed. He wondered if he has anything to live for.

He couldn't concentrate long enough to answer, but decided he had no
choice but to go under the knife.
When he left the hospital, his mind was clear, but he felt like he was
missing an important part of himself.
As he walked down the street, he realized that he felt like a different
person.
He could make a new beginning and live a new life.
He walked past a men's clothing store and thought, "That's what I need: a
new suit."
He entered the shop and told the salesman, "I'd like a new suit."
The salesman eyed him briefly and said, "Let's see... size 44 long."
Joe laughed, "That's right, how did you know?"
"It's my job."
Joe tried on the suit. It fit perfectly.
As Joe admired himself in the mirror, the salesman asked,
"How about a new shirt?"
Joe thought for a moment and then said, "Sure..."
The salesman eyed Joe and said, "Let's see... 34 sleeve and... 16 and a
half neck"
Joe was surprised, "That's right, how did you know?"
"It's my job."
Joe tried on the shirt, and it fit perfectly. As Joe adjusted the collar
in the mirror, the salesman asked,
"How about new shoes?"
Joe was on a roll and said, "Sure ..."
The salesman eyed Joe's feet and said, "Let's see... 9-1/2... E."
Joe was astonished, "That's right, how did you know?"
"It's my job."
Joe tried on the shoes and they fit perfectly. Joe walked comfortably
around the shop and the salesman asked,
"How about a new hat?"
Without hesitating, Joe said, "Sure..."
The salesman eyed Joe's head and said, "Let's see... 7-5/8."
Joe was incredulous, "That's right, how did you know?"
"It's my job."
The hat fit perfectly. Joe was feeling great, when the salesman asked,
"How about some new underwear?"
Joe thought for a second and said, "Sure..."
The salesman stepped back, eyed Joe's waist and said,
"Let's see... size 36."
Joe laughed, "No, I've worn size 34 since I was 18 years old."
The salesman shook his head, "You can't wear a size 34.
It would press your testicles up against the base of your spine and give
you one hell of a headache."

This kind of case is one reason why we need to be able to sue our doctors when they err. And this IS one heck of an error. The doctor had no RIGHT to make such a decision on his own and I cannot believe any cancer of the penis could have been IMMEDIATELY life threatening. If it spread to crucial organs, castration wasn't going to help anyway. If it didn't, it could darn well have waited for the man to get other opinions.

In my opinion this wasn't just medical malpractice--it was assault.

Medical types are NOT DEITIES. But boy they sometimes seem to think they are. My mom was recently in the hospital, and a nurse INSISTED that tylenol and her atenolol were the same thing. She was too lazy to walk back to the drug cabinet to get the right stuff. They SOUNDED the same, so my mother should just shut up.....

I agree totally. The doctors are shifting blame and not taking responsibility for their actions. I find that very disturbing. I think patients have a right to know a doctors previous mistakes and need guidance on checking a doctors ability. The medical board is covering for the doctors it appears fromt this quote. Neither Dryden nor Khoury have been disciplined or had license interruptions, according to the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners. Complaints or investigations that don't result in disciplinary actions, however, are not made public, board spokeswoman Jane McFarland said.

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