Complications from Male Circumcision
Male infant circumcision is a complicated and controversial issue in today’s modern medical world, with a number of purported risks and benefits. While significant progress has been made in ensuring that neonatal circumcisions (those made within a month of birth) are as painless as possible and well executed, a number of cases are reported every year in which complications from the procedure arise. These complications can include:
- Hemorrhaging (especially devastating if the child is discovered to be hemophilic)
- Infection
- Tetanus
- Various forms of deformation
Although circumcision is usually a parental choice based on a number of cultural and religious factors, it is important to be as informed as possible about exactly how the operation is carried out, as well as the potential risks both in the procedure itself and later in life.
Medical Responsibilities
The vast majority of circumcisions carried out by experienced physicians in the U.S. are successful. However, if a complication does result from this procedure, the effects can be extremely serious for parent and child alike. Permanent injury to a circumcised male often means a lifetime of dealing with the psychological and physical consequences of a supposedly routine surgery.
Doctors in the U.S. are expected to provide a certain degree of information on the risks of circumcision for a parent’s consent to be accepted. If this consent is found to be invalid, circumcision can be considered a form of battery. Moreover, complications resulting from blatant failure to follow accepted medical standards in this delicate operation may constitute medical malpractice.
Contact Us
If your family has been affected by complications arising from neonatal circumcision, and you believe poor execution or lack of proper consent was involved, the experienced Philadelphia birth injury lawyer of Lowenthal & Abrams can help you determine the right course of action in this difficult time. Contact us today at 215-238-1130.