Urology is the medical specialty that deals with medical conditions of the male and female urinary tracts, which include the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Urologists are specialists, medical doctors who complete at least an additional five years residency of hospital-based clinical training after medical school.
Many patients are referred to a urologist by a primary care or family doctor to have a urological issue worked up. Urologists perform their own detailed assessments and often use lab work and diagnostic radiology tools, such as CT scans, MRI scans, and ultrasounds, to make a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
Male conditions
Urologists treat serious conditions in men including kidney disease and stones, urinary tract infections (UTIs), testicular torsion, enlarged prostate, prostatitis (inflamed prostate gland) erectile dysfunction (ED), varicoceles (enlarged veins inside the scrotum that can cause pain and infertility), and various cancers of the male urinary tract (kidneys, bladder, penis, testicles, prostate gland, and adrenal gland).
Female conditions
In women, urologists treat many of the same conditions, plus urinary incontinence (accidental voiding of urine) and the range of surgical and medical issues presented by bladder prolapse (when the bladder drops into the vagina).
Additionally, urologists treat boys and girls for congenital/genetic and acquired problems in the urinary tract.
Medical malpractice
According to the most-detailed claims data available from the Medical Professional Liability Association, the top factors leading to medical malpractice claims against urologists include:
• Improper performance of surgery. This frequently leads to a foreign body being left inside a patient during surgery or cutting or puncturing an unintended structure by mistake.
• Errors in diagnosis, which lead to a delay in diagnosis and treatment. According to claims data, this commonly leads to delayed diagnosis and treatment of malignant prostate cancer.
If you’ve been seriously injured because of issues with urological care, then contact a top-rated experienced Houston, Texas medical malpractice lawyer for a free evaluation of your potential case.
