Malcircumcision - When Negligence Is Involved (2023)

FAQs

What to do about a botched circumcision? ›

You could file a suit against the doctor, hospital, or practitioner who performed the procedure in addition to the manufacturer of the equipment used in the procedure. Botched circumcisions could result in long-term physical and psychological damage.

Understanding Medical Malpractice and Your Right to Take Legal Action. A botched circumcision or any other surgical procedure is a form of medical malpractice.

If a mohel or other religious figure makes a mistake during a circumcision which leads to injury, the infant's parents may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, these lawsuits are difficult to win because courts are often reluctant to interfere with religious ceremonies.

Circumcision is, by and large, one of the safest surgical procedures one can perform on a human. But complications do happen. Estimates of their frequency vary dramatically, from 0.01 percent of cases up to 10 percent or more.

Generally, circumcision isn't medically necessary. Parents may decide to have their newborn males circumcised for social, cultural, or religious reasons. There are medical reasons we may recommend circumcision, such as preventing bacteria from getting trapped and lowering the risk of infections.

Decisions in recent court cases have suggested that someone circumcised without their consent, even if their parents consented for them as a child, may be able to sue the doctor when they reach 18 years of age based on medical malpractice or the idea that they suffered a personal injury.

The reported surgical complication rate is quite low (between 2 to 3 percent), and most of those are minor post-operative bleeding. The most common complication is that not enough foreskin is removed, leading parents to request an operative circumcision revision.

When Insurance Does Not Cover Circumcision. Circumcision and circumcision revision performed for aesthetic or hygienic or religious reasons are considered “cosmetic” and are not covered by health insurance.

If you believe a surgeon made a mistake during a surgical procedure, you should seek consultation from a medical malpractice attorney. Patients have a right to ask their physician if their medical mistake was avoidable or could have been prevented in any way, as well as the reasons it occurred in the first place.

We recommend that the decision to circumcise is one best made by parents in consultation with their pediatrician, taking into account what is in the best interests of the child, including medical, religious, cultural, and ethnic traditions and personal beliefs.

Is male circumcision a violation of human rights? ›

Male circumcision also violates four core human rights documents-the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Convention Against Torture.

It Is Your Decision

The American Academy of Pediatrics considers circumcision a choice for parents to make. Some parents choose circumcision for religious or cultural reasons.

The most common complications of male circumcision are bleeding and local infection [2,6,7], followed by unsatisfactory cosmetic results (too little or too much skin removed) and surgical trauma or injury.

Some studies link involuntary male circumcision with a range of negative emotions and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some circumcised men have described their current feelings in the language of violation, torture, mutilation and sexual assault.

Excessive Foreskin Removed

In most cases the denuded area will epithelialize spontaneously and give a satisfactory end result, but the inital appearance can be quite distressing to both parents and practitioner.

The possible medical benefits of circumcision include: A lower risk of HIV. A slightly lower risk of other sexually transmitted diseases. A slightly lower risk of urinary tract infections and penile cancer.

Complications. Circumcision can cause skin bridges, haemorrhaging, infection, as well as major penile damage. Dozens of case studies describe severe complications, including penile amputations and death; several infant deaths have been reported in the past few years.

Circumcision violates the cardinal principles of medical ethics, to respect autonomy (self-determination), to do good, to do no harm, and to be just. Without a clear medical indication, circumcision must be deferred until the child can provide his own fully informed consent.

One such organization distributed questionnaires to circumcised men. The complaints included prominent scarring (33%), insufficient penile skin for comfortable erection (27%), erectile curvature from uneven skin loss (16%), and pain and bleeding upon erection/manipulation (17%).

Despite this laissez faire attitude, the fact remains that mutilating a child for non-therapeutic reasons is abuse and a fundamental infringement of their human rights.

How much is a circumcision worth? ›

Usually, adult circumcision prices range from $1500 - $3,000 depending upon geographic region, type of anesthesia, and the experience of the provider.

Having a second circumcision is often called “circumcision revision.” It is uncommon but sometimes necessary. Studies show that if a child has too much foreskin after a first circumcision, it is best not to wait too long to correct it. The problem typically will only get worse if not treated.

Toddlers up the age of two and boys who are at least nine can have the revision right here in our clinic. We're equipped to serve patients who may desire or require circumcision revision with minimal stress or discomfort.

Procedure Details

Circumcision revision is most often done by a urologist in a hospital. General anesthesia is needed.

Total out-of-pocket costs for circumcision REVISION under LOCAL anesthesia usually vary from $2400 to $3500 depending on the complexity of the procedure.

What is the recovery time for Circumcision Revision? In general, is similar to recovery after circumcision. In our practice, most men are able to resume work within 1-3 days after circumcision revision. Many men do not require pain medications beyond over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain relievers.

So how does one prove a surgeon's negligence to a judge or jury? Evidence must be introduced which shows that the physician breached the applicable surgical standard of care, and through that breach caused some injury to the patient.

A surgical error is an avoidable mistake made by a medical professional during surgery that results in additional or unanticipated harm to the patient. Although all surgeries involve some known risks, it's considered surgical error when a patient experiences unexpected complications during their procedure.

Shockingly, one of the most common types of surgical errors is leaving foreign objects in a patient after surgery. A foreign object left behind can include anything from clamps to surgical sponges to gauze.

The commandment to circumcise was a covenant made with Abraham and is recorded in Genesis 17:10–14, reading: 'And God spoke to Abraham saying: … This is my covenant which you shall keep between me and you and thy seed after you — every male child among you shall be circumcised.

Does circumcision require both parents consent? ›

They can both request a circumcision to be performed, as well as consent to it being performed, on the grounds of their parental authority. However, it is important that both parents consent to the procedure.

Sikhism does not require circumcision of either males or females, and criticizes the practice.

As one of the most common procedures a boy undergoes, urologists recommend this procedure for its distinct link to personal hygiene and preventive health care. Thanks to the advancements in technology, circumcision can now be performed for newborn babies, albeit it's a more complicated procedure.

Background. Neonatal male circumcision is a painful skin-breaking procedure that may affect infant physiological and behavioral stress responses as well as mother-infant interaction. Due to the plasticity of the developing nociceptive system, neonatal pain might carry long-term consequences on adult behavior.

Circumcision reduces the bacteria that can live under the foreskin. This includes bacteria that can cause urinary tract infections or, in adults, STIs. Circumcised infants appear to have less risk of urinary tract infections than uncircumcised infants during the first year of life.

For the glans penis, circumcised men reported decreased sexual pleasure and lower orgasm intensity. They also stated more effort was required to achieve orgasm, and a higher percentage of them experienced unusual sensations (burning, prickling, itching, or tingling and numbness of the glans penis).

Adult (or cosmetic) circumcision is generally not a covered procedure under health insurance plans unless there is medical necessity. Usually, adult circumcision prices range from $1500 - $3,000 depending upon geographic region, type of anesthesia, and the experience of the provider.

Although the incidence of ED was variable between different studies, there was no significant difference in ED between the circumcised and uncircumcised groups (OR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.65–1.25) (Figure 4). ED in circumcised and uncircumcised men.

A botched circumcision or any other surgical procedure is a form of medical malpractice. Medical malpractice occurs when medical professionals fail to treat their patients with the required degree of skill, care, and attentiveness necessary to ensure to promote the health of their patients.

Do you need a medical reason to get circumcised? ›

It's rare for circumcision to be recommended for medical reasons in boys. This is because other less invasive and less risky treatments are usually available.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recommended the procedure for years. The association argues that the overall benefits outweigh the risks, which most often include bleeding and infection at the site of circumcision.

Genital Autonomy

And the strongest argument against infant circumcision is that it is a human rights violation: An amputation of a functioning part of a child's genitals, without his consent. As parents you will make many, many decisions for your son, but no one, not even parents, should have the right to harm a child.

Introduction. Unlike female genital mutilation, male circumcision is not an illegal act in itself and is not normally a child protection or safeguarding issue.

If circumcision would alleviate a medical problem, for example problems retracting the foreskin, insurance may cover the procedure. When a medical problem isn't present, the procedure is considered elective.

Reliable sources differ on whether the organization takes a position in developed nations. Current circumcision incidence and prevalence in the United States is approximately 80% due to support from the country's medical community as a prophylactic health intervention against disease.

Some hospitals in the USA sell the foreskins for up to $1,000 each. It has skin cells called fibroblast, when processed can be used in anti-aging creams. 2.

Thus, circumcision fails the requirement embodied in the Hippocratic Oath, “First, do no harm.”

Patients with these abnormalities should be referred to a pediatric urologist. The most common complications of male circumcision are bleeding and local infection [2,6,7], followed by unsatisfactory cosmetic results (too little or too much skin removed) and surgical trauma or injury.

Male circumcision also violates four core human rights documents-the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Convention Against Torture.

What religion is against circumcision? ›

Circumcision is forbidden in Mandaeism, and the sign of the Jews given to Abraham by God, circumcision, is considered abhorrent by the Mandaeans.

Medical indications for circumcision are generally accepted as phimosis secondary to balanitis xerotica obliterans and recurrent balanoposthitis, which occur in 1.5% and 1% of boys respectively.

This is called redundant foreskin. It can cause scar tissue to form as an infant grows and develops more fat in the area around the penis. Buried penis. Circumcision revision may also be needed if the penis drops back into the fatty area surrounding it, seeming to “trap” it.

Normal Circumcision Healing

The tenderness should be much less by day 3. The scab at the incision line comes off in 7 to 10 days. If a Plastibell (plastic ring) was used, it should fall off by 14 days. 10 days is the average.