In an out-of-court settlement, the Catalan Health Service has agreed to pay a 20 year old man €54,890 euros in compensation over a medical blunder that led to one of his testicles being amputated.

The case dates back to November 1st, 2006 when the young man attended the A&E department of Vendrell Hospital in Barcelona suffering from testicular pain and inflammation.

After failing to examine the patient, and incorrectly diagnosing an infection, doctors wrote out a prescription for a course of antibiotics, and sent him home.

Two days later, and still in the most terrific pain, the man was seen by doctors at the A&E department of Viladecans Hospital where tests revealed that he was, in fact, suffering from testicular torsion.

By this stage, however, after a prolonged period of time deprived of blood, the testicle could not be saved.