I was hoping this wouldn't happen to us.

[Amandamanda]

My 5 month old perfect intact DS (my much longed for first boy!) had a regular appointment for a check up on saturday. We don't vax, and I do generally enjoy going to the well-baby visits because I like to know how much he is growing etc. We saw a different doctor in the practice that day, and not our usual doctor who I love. He was just doing the regular check up/exam, opened his diaper, and before I even could blink or comprehend what was going on, had retracted him. DS started to scream and I immediately picked him up and wouldn't let the doc touch him again. I have never heard him cry like that. I noticed that the tip of his penis was bleeding and the doctor was like, I don't know why it is bleeding, I've never had that happen to me before (always what you want to hear, right?) and ran out to get some ointment to put on it. He had the nerve to then lecture me about not retracting him to clean down there, and said that it wouldn't have bled if I had been doing it regularly since birth. Yeah. I have never wanted to physically harm someone more in my entire life. I felt like throwing up the entire way home. I was (and am) so physically sick over this. I just feel like I let my son down by not being able to protect him better. I feel like I have done so much research, spent so much time arming myself with quick responses to why we don't circ, why he shouldn't be retracted, etc- and it still happened to us. It was so quick.

Anyway, this was on saturday, and he seems to be acting fine, not in pain down there and everything looks normal, so should I assume he is okay and not harmed from the trauma? Is there anything I can further (aside from yelling at him again) do to let the doc know that what he did was not okay? I just feel like I can't leave this alone. I have to protect my baby. I feel like such a failure as a mother. Why did he even need to be touching his penis anyway? I don't recall them ever needing to feel around my girls parts? Ugh. Ugh Ugh...

[buckeyedoc]

I would be FURIOUS! It is not your fault, though. Can you dig out the AAP's care of the intact penis guideline and send it to the office with a letter of dismay? This doctor is misinformed and is giving awful advice to parents.

[Grace and Granola]

Originally Posted by buckeyedoc

I would be FURIOUS! It is not your fault, though. Can you dig out the AAP's care of the intact penis guideline and send it to the office with a letter of dismay? This doctor is misinformed and is giving awful advice to parents.

This is exactly what I did when it happened to my ds. I printed the page and highlighted the appropriate parts and mailed it to the doctor. I never saw or heard from the doctor again.

My ds was ok. I was way more traumatized than he was. (I think!) I thought about it often and replayed it in my mind for a long time, but it is one of those things that you have to choose to let go. You can't change what already happened. He is now almost 5 with a perfectly healthy and functional intact penis.

[GoBecGo]

I'm in the UK and if this had happened to me i would have dialled 999 from the consultation room to report sexual assault on a baby. My GP checked my DD for labial adhesions without even touching her - just asked me to flex her hips and glanced to see. I would make a massive complaint about this, escalate it as far as possible and basically make sure that doctor never tried to touch a baby's penis again.

[Baby~Braatens~Mama]

Originally Posted by GoBecGo

I'm in the UK and if this had happened to me i would have dialled 999 from the consultation room to report sexual assault on a baby. My GP checked my DD for labial adhesions without even touching her - just asked me to flex her hips and glanced to see. I would make a massive complaint about this, escalate it as far as possible and basically make sure that doctor never tried to touch a baby's penis again.

I completely agree!

I am horrified for you both! Is it common practice for the doctor to look at and touch the private parts of children during well child care visits???!??? I feel so very uncomfortable with the idea of anyone who isn't cleaning my child messing around with his penis!

[Nitenites]

It is a normal part of WCV for the ped to examine the child's genitals. In boys, the testicles should be checked (for testicular torsion, hydrocele, undescended testicles, etc, as these are all things that can develop within the first two years) and the penis should be examined- BUT THE FORESKIN SHOULD NOT BE RETRACTED! I hope you address this with the ped, his practice, and your state physician's licensing board. In writing.

[sosurreal09]

OMW! (((hugs))) i would have had a heart attack on the spot lol you're poor DS!

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

One time wont be a problem it only becomes one when it happens over and over.

I would talk to your regular ped about what happened and have him explain to the other Dr that what he did opened them up for a lawsuit so that it dosnt happen to other little boys.

[nola79]

Amanda! I would be seriously pissed! This was not your fault, you did protect your son. As soon as you realized what was going on, you picked him up and didn't let that doc touch him. I would let both the doc you usually see and the office manager know what happened and how you feel about it. So sorry you and your poor little ds had to go through that.

[Crunchy Frog]

I strongly urge you to contact the lawyer for Doctors Opposing Circumcision, John D. Geisheker. You can find his contact information here, http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcisi...t/contact.html

From what I have heard, he will send an official letter to the doc and affiliated hospitals/medical practices that will get their attention and really let them know that what he did was wrong and risky from a liability standpoint. He will not charge anything for this service.

Even if you never see this guy again, he is out there doing this to other little boys and every attempt should be made to stop him.

[To-Fu]

Originally Posted by buckeyedoc

I would be FURIOUS! It is not your fault, though. Can you dig out the AAP's care of the intact penis guideline and send it to the office with a letter of dismay? This doctor is misinformed and is giving awful advice to parents.

I hope you absolutely do this, OP.

[peainthepod]

Originally Posted by Crunchy Frog

I strongly urge you to contact the lawyer for Doctors Opposing Circumcision, John D. Geisheker. You can find his contact information here, http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcisi...t/contact.html

From what I have heard, he will send an official letter to the doc and affiliated hospitals/medical practices that will get their attention and really let them know that what he did was wrong and risky from a liability standpoint. He will not charge anything for this service.

Even if you never see this guy again, he is out there doing this to other little boys and every attempt should be made to stop him.

This! And also the AAP guide. If the AAP information doesn't stop him, fear of a lawsuit should.

So sorry that happened, OP. I would have been spitting fire too.

[T-man's Mama]

Originally Posted by Crunchy Frog

I strongly urge you to contact the lawyer for Doctors Opposing Circumcision, John D. Geisheker. You can find his contact information here, http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcisi...t/contact.html

From what I have heard, he will send an official letter to the doc and affiliated hospitals/medical practices that will get their attention and really let them know that what he did was wrong and risky from a liability standpoint. He will not charge anything for this service.

Even if you never see this guy again, he is out there doing this to other little boys and every attempt should be made to stop him.

Definitely escalate this!!! I, too, would be horrified and furious if someone retracted my DS. Please don't just let it go. That idiot doc will most likely perpetuate this abuse on other intact boys until someone gets is across to him that what he is doing IS abuse -- unwarranted, and unnecessary and downright harmful. UGH. Your poor son, sorry that happened to him