Paruresis is characterized by an extreme difficulty urinating in settings where other people are present. The condition has an especially strong effect on men, because public restrooms offer little to no privacy.
An inmate in Nebraska who is serving time for killing a woman in the eighties attempted to sue a group of workers at the prison where he was being held. He asserted that he has shy bladder syndrome and that he should be allowed to have a private cell because of it.
The outcome resulted in the judge ruling to dismiss the charges against the prison personnel.
To find out the details of the case and what the judge had to say about paruresis, follow the link to the article.
