Can someone please help me write a letter?

[travisandjill]

I want to write a letter to my hospital because of a foreskin retraction on my (at the time 8 week old son) and the rude treatment given to me by the hospital staff for not circumcising my son. Back in July/August ( I know, I know, I procrastinate!)we took my 8-9 week old son to the ER for a high fever. Since he was 2 mos old the standard procedure was to cath him for a clean urine sample. Right from the start the nurse (male) was very negative that we didnt circ our son! The nurse tried for literally 40 or so minutes to insert the cath, while trying very hard to retract my son. I didnt know at the time that the baby wasnt suppost to be retracted as he was my first son and I had never dealt with a intact penis before. My son was screaming loudly in pain! The male nurse shouted at me, "Why didnt you circumcise your baby? Your going to have to now!!!!" This brought me to tears and I asked why...He yelled back that, "I am trying to retract his foreskin VERY HARD and its not budging. Its suppost to retract!" My son is still screaming in pain at this point.

Finally he called in a female NICU nurse who inserted the cath right away without retracting the foreskin (as she deals with intact penises alot being that she is the NICU nurse and usually works with sick babies who are just born). The female nurse scolded the male nurse and said that he should have never tried to retract the foreskin at all! The male nurse went out and asked all the DR's on staff and half of them agreed with the nurse and the other half said yes you are suppost to retract babies (See how uneducated our DOCTORS Are?!?!) They got the sample and we left quickly...traumatized. When we got home I went on the internet and did my research. I found out what happened was WRONG and I am soooo upset about it! I need to write a letter to infor the hospital of this. I will call tomorrow to find out the exact date we went and our doctors and nurses names. Also who should I send the letter to? I want this to sound as professional as possible.

Thanks!

Jill~mama who is forever scarred by this horrible experience! I am sure my 6 month old son is too!

[pdx.mothernurture]

If possible, I think I'd start out by getting a copy of your medical records from the ER visit so you can see who the nurses/doctors were, and can make your letter more specific. Date, time, description of events. Explain your concern, your son's expressions of discomfort, and any tears/bleeding/swelling from the attempted retraction.

I'd attach the AAP's recommendations regarding intact care as well. Someone else may have resources that explain how intact babies should be catherized. You can also bring up the fact that you weren't ever offered/explained the alternative, less invasive way of obtaining the sample (via bagging).

Then, you have to decide who to send your letter to. You can make several copies and send it to different people/departments, and you could even consider filing a formal complaint.

I would also include in the letter the steps you hope to take to remedy the situation so no other infant/family has a similar experience at their hospital...like, making sure all of the nurses and doctors are educated about not retracting intact babies, and the damage it can cause.

HTHs...perhaps others will have ideas!

Jen

[Leiahs]

You can also contact Doctors Opposing Circumcision. Some advice I got from Quirky once:

Email John Geisheker, attorney for Doctors Opposing Circumcision at [e-mail] with the details of what happened, the doctor's name and address, etc. He will send a barn-burner of a letter with tons of references.

[Frankly Speaking]

This is how you compose a professional business letter which is what this is.

At the top, type your name and return address and date.

In the first paragraph, state the reason you are writing.

In the main body of the letter, explain the situation. Include what happened, when it happened with the date and approximate time. State who did what and why it was right or wrong and why it was right or wrong. Refer to statements from the medical associations.

In the last paragraph, state what you expect to happen as a result of your letter and ask for a reply.

If you possibly can, keep the letter to one page.

Attach all supporting documentation such as policy statements from the medical associations.

Tri-fold the letter and mail it in a standard white business envelope.

Be sure to spell check and to proof read for gramatical errors.

Send the letter to the Hospital Administrator and copy the Chief of Emergency Services, the Chief of Pediatrics, the head of urology, the risk manager and the Nursing Supervisor. The titles vary from hospital to hospital. Check their website or call the hospital for the correct titles used at that hospital and names of those people. You may also want to copy Doctors Opposing Circumcision and John Geisheker or Steven Svboda at Attorneys for the Rights of the Child for psychological impact.

This is the format that says you know what you are doing and are not to be dismissed and is most likely to get a reply and changes at the hospital.



Frank

[Quirky]

Also send the letter to your insurance company that paid for the visit. They should know that they're paying for sub-standard care and may have more expenses to come if your ds or someone else's has follow-on medical problems because of this sub-standard care (such as infections, adhesions, etc.)

[travisandjill]

Thanks everyone!
Has anyone ever had the lawyer write a letter for them? How did it turn out? I would really like for him to write one for me but I just want to make sure I am not stepping on anybodys toes That is very nice of him to offer to write one pro-bono though


Thanks again! Jill

[nd_deadhead]

Jill, I once wrote a letter of complaint about a doctor (an ENT). I sent copies to her, the director of the clinic, the human resources director, and the insurance carrier. I also had my GP review the letter before I sent it (since I refered to him in the letter).

[MAMom]

Curious on why they needed/wanted to cath instead of using a "pee bag" (a sticky bag that adheres around the penis/testitcles to collect urine)?

When my DS was hospitalized last year, we refused the cath & they collected the urine this way instead.

The treatment you received was completely unacceptable! Don't take any baloney from medical staff. If you're ever in a situation again with a medical "professional" that makes you uncomfortable/upset, stop the procedure/treatment and seek out a supervisor. There's no excuse for unacceptable care like that! I've "fired" a nurse each of the past 2 times I've been in the hospital.

I recently filed a complaint against a doc who was treating my son, and I would urge you to do the same regarding your experience. It also took me a few months to get it done, but in the end it had been cathartic for me & hopefully some action will be taken against the doc.