Patient’s testicle cut off in op by mistake

A PATIENT lost a testicle during an operation after the surgeon accidentally cut it off, the medical watchdog was told yesterday.

Dr Sulieman Al Hourani was only supposed to cut out a cyst on the patient’s right testis, but instead he “mistakenly” removed the whole testicle, the General Medical Council (GMC) heard.

Dr Al Hourani, who worked as a locum surgeon at Fairfield General Hospital in Bury, Greater Manchester, is accused of misconduct over the error and faces further charges of injecting himself with a drug meant for a patient and stealing tablets.

The medic, who is now practicing in Jordan, is not present or represented by lawyers at the Fitness to Practice Panel which is hearing his case at the GMC in Manchester.

The panel decided to proceed with the case in his absence as he had been notified of the hearing, but chose not to “engage” with the GMC or appoint lawyers to represent him.

Sarah Prichard, counsel for the GMC opening the hearing, said a man, known only as patient A, had gone into hospital for the cyst to be removed on September 5 2007.

Ms Prichard added: “The theatre staff will tell the panel that their impression of what happened was that Dr Al Hourani had mistakenly removed the testicle rather than the cyst and expressed him[self] rather quite surprised the testicle rather than that which the patient had consented for was removed. The hearing, continues today.