Whether or not to circumcise your baby boy is a deeply personal decision that can be influenced by your general expectations, your faith and your culture. Even though it’s a less prevalent procedure in the United States than it once was, it’s still very common – and sometimes it’s even done without the parents’ consent.
What if something goes wrong? A botched circumcision is often the result of medical malpractice.
What kinds of things can go wrong with a circumcision?
Before you ever agree to have your baby circumcised, your physician should discuss the potential for complications, like:
- Excessive skin removal: Sometimes more than just the foreskin is removed, which can ultimately cause poor healing and require plastic surgery to repair.
- Insufficient skin removal: On the flip side, too little of the foreskin can be removed, which can create scar tissue that affects penile functioning.
- Hemorrhaging or excessive bleeding: There should be very little bleeding with a properly done circumcision. When bleeding is excessive, your child may need special sutures and close monitoring.
- Infection: Infection is one of the biggest concerns, and it should always be considered a product of poor cleaning practices. Since newborns have very little natural immunity to infection, this can be a serious problem, especially if the infection becomes systemic.
- Necrosis and amputation: When “corrective” measures, like clamping for excessive bleeding are too aggressive, it can cause penile necrosis, or cellular death. Amputation can be either accidental or a result of treatment for necrosis, which is clearly devastating for both the child and parents.
If your infant boy was injured due to a botched circumcision, you should take immediate action to protect your child’s future and hold the appropriate parties accountable. Experienced legal guidance is wise.