Tucson Man Suing Hospital Over Testicle Removal

A Tucson, Ariz., man is suing a hospital for medical malpractice over the loss of a testicle.

Kenneth “Ryan” Irby says he underwent an operation on May 8, 2007, at University Medical Center. He says a surgeon was going to perform a biopsy on his right testicle and remove it only if it was cancerous.

When he woke up, the 23-year-old Irby assumed the testicle was cancerous because it was gone. During a follow-up appointment a week later, an intern told him the biopsy was negative and he didn’t have cancer.

Irby brought a lawsuit against University Physicians Healthcare, claiming the doctors at UMC were negligent in their care. UPH attorneys contend the doctor’s actions were reasonable and Irby knew the risks when he signed a surgery consent form.

The trial is currently underway in Pima County Superior Court.