“Biopsy does not equate radical orchiectomy”

I was taking care of a young man with a long-standing history of poorly controlled insulin dependent diabetes and a pulmonary fungal infection who came into the hospital with a scrotal mass.  To frame the story, I must inform you that this young man had a tragic childhood, fractured medical care and had developed an incredible mistrust of healthcare professionals through multiple run ins with the healthcare system.  To most of the hospital staff (ie. Phlebotomist, nursing, social workers) he appeared surly and “uncooperative” and he was labeled as such.  It took days for him to trust myself and my intern enough to start sharing his background with us and for us to begin to help him.  In regards to his care, urology was consulted and initially said that there was nothing to do.  Given patient’s history of a pulmonary fungal infection that was likely… Continue reading →