Another question about an ER experience - was this ok???

[Astromom]

We had to take DS (25 months) to the ER today to rule out testicular torsion because of some crazy severe pain he had. The nurse and doctor examined him and said it looked ok (long story short, it ended up being related to an allergic reaction - nothing internal related to his genitals.) However, the doctor went in and began to pull at his foreskin a bit and I grabbed her hand away : (my hand moved faster than my mouth.) All I could think of was all the threads I've noticed here and so "don't let a medical professional retract DS's foreskin" is seared in my brain. I asked her what she was doing and she said she had to check the urethra. We had already explained that he urinated without pain, so I didn't get why she had to do this. I told her not to, and she said "No, it just means you aren't supposed to retract it at home." I just asked her not to anyway, and she left to get her supervisor. Supervising doc came in and just stuck her hand in there too (had to grab her hand too ) and then she explained that she would only pull back a tiny bit to check, and that he has most likely retracted it that far himself on his own. So, she pulled slightly back, I saw red (yikes), DS didn't even blink, and she said it looked fine.

OK, so please please ease my mind and tell me what she did was ok and that I can stop feeling sick about letting them touch DS?

[Night_Nurse]

Patients (and their parents) always have the right to refuse any medical exam. Your son was there for something not related to his foreskin/urethra, you already told them he was voiding (peeing) without difficulty, you already declined the exam with the first doctor. Why on earth did the first doc go get her "supervisor"?????? Why did the supervisor say parents should not retract at home but yet think it's okay that she did this?
It sounds like your son is fine and yes, she was probably correct that the foreskin had already retracted that much on it's own (sounds like it had). But we hear sooooo many times how American doctors retract and cause harm, it's better, IMO, to just always refuse to let a doctor touch your son's penis unless there is a real reason.
I am a nurse and I see all the time how intimidated patients get by their doctors. Doctors work for you and the patient always has the right to refuse something (and shouldn't feel bullied into something they aren't comfortable with). I'm sorry they didn't respect your wishes and I'm glad your son is okay. Just to be safe in the future though, I wouldn't let a doctor retract even just a little. It's too hard to predict when he/she will go too far and cause pain or damage.

[latinalonestar]

No it was not okay. Sorry but that is what was done to my son and it DOES cause problems. Only the owner of the foreskin should manipulate a foreskin. She was checking for something called meatal stenosis that occurs in circumcised boys. This condition virtually NEVER happens to intact boys. She clearly doesn't know much about the intact boy, like many doctors.

Here is some reading, you might want to take this to the doctors visits or trips to the ER in the future.

http://www.mothering.com/articles/ne...uncircson.html

http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcisi...kinleaflet.pdf

http://www.nocirc.org/publish/pamphlet7.html

http://www.nocirc.org/publish/pamphlet6.html

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=575627

[Astromom]

ugh, I knew it :(

Thank you for your replies. However, I was sure hoping you would say yes, this was a time when it was medically necessary. Dang it, I KNEW I was right to protest.

Originally Posted by Night_Nurse

Why on earth did the first doc go get her "supervisor"??????

It was very effective at making me feel like I was a totally uneducated and unreasonable person for refusing to let her do it!

Originally Posted by latinalonestar

Here is some reading, you might want to take this to the doctors visits or trips to the ER in the future.

Thank you. I just didn't know enough about this to defend myself. I will read. I knew that no one was supposed to retract it but I don't know much beyond that. It totally didn't help the supervising doctor was very angry with me and saying she HAD to do this and that it wasn't even really retraction. Duh, of course it was.

It will NEVER happen again. Now that it has though, will I be able to know/observe if any damage had been done? Or the fact that he didn't even seem to notice or care... is that a good enough sign that THIS time we were lucky??