Gregory Slingluff, a former inmate in a
Hawaii high-security correctional
facility, has been awarded $983,395.29
by the state for damages suffered when
an infection on his scrotum was
inadequately treated by prison doctors,
leading to castration.
In 2003, while serving time for a drug
offense, Slingluff complained of scrotal
pain. The doctors didn’t examine him
right away, only prescribing a relatively
small dosage of antibiotics when the
condition worsened. Six days after his
first complaint, Slingluff’s scrotum was
melon-sized. He underwent six surgeries,
including the castration, before
returning to prison.
Now out of prison, Slinguff sued the
state for malpractice and a Hawaii
Circuit Court agreed that Slinguff’s
treatment fell below the standard of
care. The Court said that, in addition to
the six surgeries, Slinguff suffered the
additional damages of “amputation of
his scrotal sac, multiple skin grafts … ,
hospitalization for two months,
infertility, loss of production of male
hormones, painful s*xual erections” as
well as future damages relating to lost
earnings and medical costs.
Slingluff faces more surgeries for
reconstruction, but will never regain his
fertility or normal testosterone
production.
“How to put a number on that is very
difficult,” Victoria Marks, the Circuit
judge, noted.
The defendants had argued that, as
government employees, prison doctors
should be awarded immunity, but the
Court decided in favor of Slingluff
because, in its words, “Prisoners should
not be denied recovery ‘for the sole
reason that the doctor or nurse is a
government employee.’”
“From a prison inmate to a multi-
millionaire,” Slingluff’s attorney,
Richard Turbin, said, “everybody is equal
under the law and is treated the same.”
Hawaii high-security correctional
facility, has been awarded $983,395.29
by the state for damages suffered when
an infection on his scrotum was
inadequately treated by prison doctors,
leading to castration.
In 2003, while serving time for a drug
offense, Slingluff complained of scrotal
pain. The doctors didn’t examine him
right away, only prescribing a relatively
small dosage of antibiotics when the
condition worsened. Six days after his
first complaint, Slingluff’s scrotum was
melon-sized. He underwent six surgeries,
including the castration, before
returning to prison.
Now out of prison, Slinguff sued the
state for malpractice and a Hawaii
Circuit Court agreed that Slinguff’s
treatment fell below the standard of
care. The Court said that, in addition to
the six surgeries, Slinguff suffered the
additional damages of “amputation of
his scrotal sac, multiple skin grafts … ,
hospitalization for two months,
infertility, loss of production of male
hormones, painful s*xual erections” as
well as future damages relating to lost
earnings and medical costs.
Slingluff faces more surgeries for
reconstruction, but will never regain his
fertility or normal testosterone
production.
“How to put a number on that is very
difficult,” Victoria Marks, the Circuit
judge, noted.
The defendants had argued that, as
government employees, prison doctors
should be awarded immunity, but the
Court decided in favor of Slingluff
because, in its words, “Prisoners should
not be denied recovery ‘for the sole
reason that the doctor or nurse is a
government employee.’”
“From a prison inmate to a multi-
millionaire,” Slingluff’s attorney,
Richard Turbin, said, “everybody is equal
under the law and is treated the same.”
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