San Diego Department of Public Health issued a $75,000 fine to Sharp Healthcare on Thursday.
The patient - a 33-year-old man who has not been identified - was to have his testicle removed after a legion was found.
The surgeon, however, made his initial incision - which was about a 'couple of inches long' - in the right testicle in the December 2011 operation.
After realizing his mistake, the surgeon closed the incision with surgical adhesive and made a new cut on the left side, according to UT San Diego.
He later admitted, during an interview with regulators, that the error came down to a lack of focus on the task at hand.
The report states: 'The surgeon acknowledged that "It was our job to concentrate at that moment, and we didn’t. Everybody heard but didn’t listen".'
A document released by the agency reported the patient suffered increased pain because of the two incisions.
The surgical staff failed to take a 'time out' to focus their attention to make sure they were about to perform the correct procedure at the proper site on the right patient, the department concluded.
'We are extremely sorry that our patient unnecessarily incurred a surgical incision,' said a statement from Sharp Healthcare. ...
