After nearly four weeks at trial, a verdict has recently been reached in a cystoscopy medical malpractice case. According to the New York Law Journal, the jury returned after two days of deliberation with a positive ruling for plaintiff and Manhattan engineer Kenneth S.

After allegedly being injured in a 2010 cystoscopy performed to diagnose the cause of blood in his urine, Kenneth said he suffered additional pain and problems which was later determined to be a urethral tear from the diagnostic procedure itself.

Kenneth filed his medical malpractice case two years later in Brooklyn Supreme Court against urologist, Dr. Marc K. Also named as defendant in the case was referring neurologist, Dr. Anthony G.

A resident of Brooklyn, the plaintiff had just completed a first surgery to address issues stemming from having his urethra torn by the tiny covered tube with a camera on one end two years prior. Because of the tear during the diagnostic procedure in 2010, scar tissue had built up in the urethra and caused the complainant to experience significant pain and discomfort.

Further surgeries will be necessary to prevent the area from continuing to create scar tissue strictures in the urethra, according to the medical malpractice case.

Medical malpractice suits come to light for many situations, such as birth injuries, misread pap smears, and surgical mishaps.

Kenneth was initially awarded a total of $3.6 million—a figure that was divided into two monetary categories: one for past pain and suffering and one for future pain and suffering. The award has since been subject to a settlement amount between the urologist and the plaintiff that will remain sealed. The referring neurologist will not share in the liability.

What is a Cystoscopy?

According to the Mayo Clinic, a cystoscopy is a scope of the bladder and tube which carries urine out of it and the body. The cystoscope is a tube in and of itself which is tinier in diameter than the urethra and has a miniscule camera on one end in which to view the status of the tissues.

The cystoscopy procedure can be performed with numbing jelly, local anesthetic, or under general anesthesia, depending on the comfort of the patient and the medical situation.

As a diagnostic procedure, cystoscopy is done to investigate certain symptoms such as painful urination, inability to completely drain the bladder, blood in the urine, or incontinence. It can be critical in helping to determine if a patient has bladder cancer, enlarged prostate, or a general inflammatory condition known as interstitial cystitis.

According to WebMD, a cystoscopy lasts just 15 to 20 minutes and may involve the removal of tumors or tissue for biopsy which can be done by the scope itself. The process involves expanding the urethra and bladder by filling it with water. It is common to feel sore for a day or two afterwards and to have burning with urination as well.

While generally speaking the risks of cystoscopy are small, a urologist requires extensive training in the procedure. A good physician would be able to note immediately if damage was done during the test and remedy the situation to prevent future problems.

The problems which might ensue from a cystoscopy could include infection, bladder rupture, bleeding from biopsy site, and hyponatremia. Hyponatremia is a situation in which the sodium levels of the body become temporarily imbalanced.