Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

The Express reports that father-of-three Paul Clegg, he was at the Barbara Castle Way Health Centre in Blackburn, northern England to have his shoulder scanned , but the staff insisted he must have his testicles scanned.

"Even after I questioned it, the staff were adamant that I was there for my testicles," he said.

"They checked through all my information, including my address and GP details, and sat me down and said clearly that I was there for that reason.

"They really tried to convince me, and when they left me in this side room I was genuinely thinking I could have cancer and there was something seriously wrong.

"It was the worst 30 minutes of my life. I lost my wife to cancer when she was only 40 and I was actually thinking of getting up and running out I was so scared.

"It was like impending doom and the nurses could see how distressed I was."

Mr Clegg later made a formal complaint and received an explanation from the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, saying that the "rare" mistake was caused by the way doctors order radiology tests on an electronic system, which then led to a "human error".

Gitzo Loc: Indiana

I can identify with Mr. Clegg; (having "been there", "did that"; )

only my scan was aimed a few inches higher than the "family jewels"......at my prostate; and the scan WAS ordered, and it came back "positive"........and I'm still here!

I hear horror stories all the time about big medical "screw-ups", but I was very fortunate that everyone involved performed flawlessly!

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

I just can't imagine hurting my shoulder and then having to argue with the staff about my testicles.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Only if the shoulder issue was a real pain in the b___s.

Red Bear

In November, 2012, I was diagnosed with bladder cancer - that had spread to the prostate - at the Denver DVAMC. Great staff, great treatment, no cancer now. This month, one year ago, I was having DAILY chemo/radiation. That got old real quick, but it worked. I can't praise the Denver DVAMC enough - they've been keeping me alive since 1969 - when some very good doctors had predicted that I might live four to five years.

Now, if I could just talk them into giving me a brain transplant . . .

viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

They made a right balls up of that.

smith934 Loc: Huntsville, Alabama

Possibly because you don't know the NHS :)

viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

The NHS is good and we would not want to live withou it but it has its drawbacks.Because of high demand and limited money it can be slow and sometimes you may wait weeks for an operation. But take today.Because of my high age I have been called into my surgery for a checkup.I have not reported any illness but I will be given the once over.It costs me nothing and if I need medication because of my age it will b free.Wouldn't swap that for any other system.

Alashisan Loc: Arizona

Yeah! That's just nuts!

smith934 Loc: Huntsville, Alabama

My reply was mostly in jest. I'm fairly familiar with NHS by virtue of being a moderator on a British political forum for several years. Like all health systems there are pluses and minuses. All things considered NHS is mostly a plus. I do dispute the "it costs me nothing". Healthcare has to be paid for, whether via taxes or through a combination of paid insurance and out of pocket as ours is.

Unfortunately, a stupid mistake such as the one described, can happen no matter the system. Thank heavens he wasn't in for surgery :) When I went in for ACL replacement, I wrote, in black Magic Marker, on my left knee "Wrong Knee".