Foreskin Support

Hi!
I've been lurking for a while, but I've recently come upon a situation where I need some help. Point me to the best resources!

A friend (L) took her son (J) to his 4 month well-baby check up. The doctor started to pull back J's foreskin. L told the doctor to stop. The doctor refused, saying that L should be pulling the foreskin back enough to expose J's urethra at every diaper change. L physically tries to stop the doctor from pulling on J's foreskin, but the doctor continues, and J starts crying, obviously in pain. All the while, L is protesting and trying to get the doctor to stop. When doctor is done, she chastises L for not retracting J's foreskin at diaper changes, and tells L that in order for the foreskin to be fully retractable by 2, that she needs to do this.

Obviously, L is shocked and angry that the doctor did not stop when she asked her to. She's distraught and going to look into changing doctors.

1) What's the best way to file a complaint against this doctor?
2) What resources/information pages can be sent to this doctor so that other intact boys aren't put through this?
3) Is there anything else L can do to make this doctor become more informed about proper foreskin care (that is, to leave it alone)?
4) Is there any list of foreskin educated doctor's out there?

Thank you!

This is absurd! 

If your friend clearly expressed that she wanted the doctor to stop, and he did not - in my opinion, this doctor assaulted your friends son.  A doctor may not perform any procedure on a minor without parental consent.  I would be absolutely livid, and seek every avenue of reprimand short of filing a lawsuit.  Clearly, she should never allow the doctor to treat her children again.  If he is so disrespectful and uninformed I would be worried about what else he might do against the mother's wishes.

I would not only write a letter to the doctor, including the medical director/office manager of the practice, but I would also find out what the procedures in that state are for filing a formal complaint against the doctor.  Most likely there is a board govorning the practice of medicine in that state.  I would also send letters to any organization with which he is affiliated, such as the AAP, etc.

How very disturbing.

The attorney for Doctors Opposing Circumcision, John Geisheker, will send a letter to the doctor/nurse/hospital pro bono (free) on your behalf telling them what they did was wrong and the consequences.  It explains the physiology of intact penile development, and makes clear the possible legal ramifications of forcible premature retraction. It isn't a letter stating you'll sue but it is fully referenced and ought to get their attention.

Email him at docdirector.geisheker@gmail.com

Before you contact John, you will need the following information:

The name of the doctor or nurse who did this, the name of his/her practice and their (snail) mailing address.

The name of the hospital where the doctor has privileges, (the hospital where they practice) and the mailing address. (even if it didn’t happen at the hospital)

The name of the CEO or Administrator of the hospital. (even if it didn't happen in the hospital, find out where the offending doctor has privileges and send it to those hospitals)

The name of the hospital's risk manager.

The name of the head of the department (OB, peds, emergency, etc.)

Letters will also be sent to:

The state medical board in your state.

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (hospitals fear them like a boogeyman)

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To understand why the advice that this doctor gave is wrong, and why pushing the foreskin back for cleaning or for "helping" the foreskin become retractable is unnecessary and potentially harmful, please check out these links:

http://www.cirp.org/library/normal/

http://www.kindredmedia.com.au/library_page1/only_clean_what_is_seen_reversing_the_epidemic_of_forcible_foreskin_retractions/401/1

The latter article includes a lot of the information that is included in the packet that is sent to the doctors.

Thanks for helping out with supporting this mom, and getting the doctor educated and held accountable. It is always important to give feedback when bad advice of this kind is uncovered. Otherwise, that doctor will keep causing harm to other intact boys.

Gillian