Pressure By Doctors To Circ - Page 2

[Sharlla]

No pressures from either of mine, all the Drs and nurses said I was making the right choice and that there was no reason for it.

[layla983]

People in the actual hospital praised us actually. The nursery supervisor told our ped we were "holding off" on the circ, because he came in to tell us he didn't do them so if we wanted it done later we'd have to find another doctor. He was very happy when I explained we weren't holding off, we were againist it. We were asked at check in once for the paperwork, then a nurse who brought him back to us after the ped saw him the first time asked if we were going to do it because she was suppose to go over instructions with us if we were. But that was really it...at least at the hospital. I was paranoid going in because on our tour, the same nurse who told our ped we were "holding off" showed us around & insisted on showing us where they strap the boys down for their circs. She was obviously pro-circ, but she never had any interaction with us when we had DS. But nurses came & told us that was great & told us how they left their sons intact as well. Made us feel even better considering we live in a high circ area.

Now, the OB's office was different.

As soon as I found out it was a boy, they handed us a bill. Had to be pre-paid. I called & said we didn't want it done, so not to bill us like the paperwork said we'd be billed. The lady on the phone told me to "think it over" & I got the bills. Again, I called & told them not to send them. About 2 weeks later I get ANOTHER letter saying that if I didn't pay my late payment & current payment, they'd want everything paid in advance before seeing me for anything, even my regular OB visits. After a day on the phone & calling several people in that building, I got it taken care of.

A doctor also mentioned it to us, even though it was marked in our chart that it wasn't getting done. When we told the midwife to correct our chart (we were asked when they confirmed my pregnancy, I said we weren't sure because I was still talking to DH about it, but they went ahead & marked circ anyway), she obviously cringed. She also rolled her eyes when she realized I had changed DH's mind (DH said something to that effect, I forget what though) & if she wasn't in a hurry I think she would have given me a lecture about how the dad should choose since he has a penis & I don't.

And my personal favorite circ comment EVER? Right after DS was born, after 24 hours of labor, 3 hours of pushing & about 3 minutes away from an emergency c-section if he hadn't come when he did, I hadn't even got to hold DS yet, the doctor is stiching me up, & he asked "So...you want him circ'ed?" I told him no, then he said he remembered that was in my chart. He then said, "I figured if I had to stay here all night for you, I'd go ahead & do it myself instead of letting the weekend on call OB do it so I could get paid for it." That left me pretty speechless.

[glongley]

Please, anybody here who posted a story about inappropriate pressure to circumcise (even having circumcision consent forms in the standard stack given to parents), I hope you will write (or have already written!) a letter of complaint to the physician, nurse, or facility involved. Patient satisfaction (and the income that flows from it) is the most important thing to hospitals, and your criticisms will not go unnoticed. I know of a lady locally who wrote her hospital about the pressures she had received and they made all kinds of changes in their policies from it. Tell them what you feel they should or should not be doing/saying - you never know what changes you might produce! If you don't write, they'll just continue with their unthinking behavior.

When you write, it is always helpful to use a "sandwich" approach - start out with something nice to say about their care/etc, then give the criticism, then end with something nice again. They'll listen better.

Gillian

[purplestraws]

We weren't pressured to circ our son, but we were asked about a million times. I seriously think that we were asked 10 times, even after they had put it on his chart that he was not to be circ'd. It was really pretty ridiculous...

[DocsNemesis]

I would sooo report that. That's just ridiculous.

I was on the other end-my OB NEVER asked and I hadnt even thought about it. In fact, I dont think my OB did them (for all I know, he might have been intact himself and this was his method of discouraging it? Who knows) and I wasnt asked until I was in labor, by the nurse at the hospital. I said sure, she said its not covered by insurance, and I said ok, nevermind. LOL He still never asked me during, after, even at the week checkup. I literally never heard him mention it!

[Yulia_R]

Originally Posted by ChristaN

Honestly, I'd be inclined to report any medical professional who did that to their state medical board for soliciting unneccesary surgery. Since the AAP says that it is the parents' choice and it is a cosmetic or personal choice, they really have no business telling you otherwise.

I agree 100%

also make sure you read this
A Warning For Parents of Intact Sons http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=129378

Congrats on your upcoming baby boy!!!!

[copslass]

After being stupid enough to agree to a hospital birth against our common sense, and after our newborn babe had a pneumothorax due to the aggressive resucitationr land lan on the counter stating "NO CIRC"
While waiting for our baby to be transferred across town, didn't know if he would even LIVE , we were asked REPEAPet dly if we wanted his penis cut! WTF! 4 or 5 times the questio n was presented!!!

Priorities in US birth?! With our dismal mortality rates?
Con mer messing up, I'm sure the message still gets through...

Mo dtor informed me sh adjusted my sig, not sur what it will be,

[copslass]

Thanks, Moniter!

[Yulia_R]

Originally Posted by perspective

Every time I hear stories like this, I imagine myself being in the parents place and giving the doctors a lecture on what the heck they are talking about and then going back home and reporting them to their supervisors along with AP info.

keep that spirit when you ARE a parent

[thixle]

Originally Posted by tennisdude23

Yeah, this is very unprofessional. I would report them, given the complete lack of professional help and violation of AAP guidelines! Is your relative using the same pediatricians? Is this in rural Kentucky or something? Because stories like yours are not the norm, thankfully. Most doctors won't pressure you either way and good job for switching! They may ask, but will remain neutral. Seriously, you think that in 2008, we would not have to deal with such crap! I'm intact by the way; so good job on your choice. How is the new doctor?

heh. I'm in a not-so-rural part of KY and... I gave birth to a DAUGHTER in the only hospital for 25 miles... and they still gave me a Circumcision Release Form in with all the standard birth certificate/picture order form package. : No one said anything about it while I was pregnant.
At the hospital (midwife care) 25 miles away, they asked me on the first visit "If the baby is a boy, do you want him circumcised." ::: DH and I said no at the same time, the MW kind of wiggled, and went to the next question-- still don't know if it was a good wiggle or a bad wiggle.


It should be illegal. illegal. illegal.

[Mama Poot]

I've never had an OB or pediatrician pressure me to circ my sons. The ped we had with our 1st child never even brought it up, and my OB certainly never brought it up-they deal with pregnant women not babies. The only doctor who ever mentioned it was DS1's urologist after he had a UTI that was found to be caused by proteus bacteria, and after I did my own research and learned about how serious a proteus infection can be I wasn't upset with him for mentioning circ, he was just doing his job. And even then it wasn't like he was saying we needed to get him circ'd right away or anything like that, and he considered it to be an absolute last resort. So I'd be pretty shocked if I was ever solicited by a doctor for that.

[TCA2008]

I just posted this on another thread, please, please if you have been pressured to circumcise:

DO file complaints, they really do cause hospitals and doctors to re-think their actions:

http://www.jointcommission.org/AboutUs/ContactUs/

Written correspondence should be sent to:

The Joint Commission
One Renaissance Blvd.
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181

And be sure to cc your complaint letter to the doctor(s) the head OB, the Risk Manager, and the Chief Compliance Office of the hospital.

By the way, it is never too late to cause them to rethink their behavior - if you were repeatedly solicited for circumcision, even if it was a few years ago, consider sending in a complaint letter at least to the hospital Chief Compliance Office, Risk Manager, Nurse Manager, and head OB, in addition to your OB and pediatrician.

[JohnathanDorley]

I was pressured to circumcise about a year ago when I was about 18, in the UK. I had some small problem with my penis (some veins appeared swollen), which I went to my doctor for, and he decided to refer me to a urologist.

The urologist examined my penis, found no problem with my veins, but decided that I should be circumcised because my foreskin was tight. I immediately refused, and I tried to explain that it wasn't as tight as it had been a year before, because I had been stretching it. He told me that my stretching loosened the foreskin by giving it small tears, and that it would soon become even tighter. He also told me that I would get a build up of smegma, which he said could cause cancer.

I refused the operation, and he offered a 'half-circumcision', and I still refused, and he seemed to get a little annoyed. He told me "well, think about it, and if you wait you may later get paraphimosis, and then we'll be operating on an emergency basis".

A year later, and of course my penis is fine. Unfortunately at the time I was a little upset by the whole thing, and I didn't realise that I could actually complain about it, so I didn't file any complaints.

(sorry if this post is TMI, or a little too long. I just saw this thread and decided to relate my experience to everyone.)

[LavenderMae]

Originally Posted by JohnathanDorley

A year later, and of course my penis is fine. Unfortunately at the time I was a little upset by the whole thing, and I didn't realise that I could actually complain about it, so I didn't file any complaints.

(sorry if this post is TMI, or a little too long. I just saw this thread and decided to relate my experience to everyone.)

Thank goodness you had the good sense to turn it down. I am disappointed to hear that even in a non-RIC country like the UK some doctors are ignorant about normal male anatomy.

Welcome to the board!

[Frankly Speaking]

This thread is at least heartening. Just 10 years ago, a significant portion of mothers posting here would be reporting that they were aggressively solicited for circumcision. There were reports just a few years ago of doctors and nurses teaming up against mothers who were resisting. There were stories posted by mothers of being brought to tears because the solicitations were so intense and also mothers who eventually gave in to the pressure and regreted the final decision.

Anyone who gets this intense solicitation should contact John Geisheker with Doctors Opposing Circumcision. John is an attorney and will be happy to write letters to the doctor and hospital explaining why this solicitation is not a good idea from a liability standpoint and that they are at significant financial and legal risk in heavily soliciting circumcision. Doctors and hospitals pay especially close attention to letters from lawyers and these letters have ended the solicitation at many hospitals.



Frank

[Claire and Boys]

Originally Posted by JohnathanDorley

I was pressured to circumcise about a year ago when I was about 18, in the UK. I had some small problem with my penis (some veins appeared swollen), which I went to my doctor for, and he decided to refer me to a urologist.

The urologist examined my penis, found no problem with my veins, but decided that I should be circumcised because my foreskin was tight. I immediately refused, and I tried to explain that it wasn't as tight as it had been a year before, because I had been stretching it. He told me that my stretching loosened the foreskin by giving it small tears, and that it would soon become even tighter. He also told me that I would get a build up of smegma, which he said could cause cancer.

I refused the operation, and he offered a 'half-circumcision', and I still refused, and he seemed to get a little annoyed. He told me "well, think about it, and if you wait you may later get paraphimosis, and then we'll be operating on an emergency basis".

A year later, and of course my penis is fine. Unfortunately at the time I was a little upset by the whole thing, and I didn't realise that I could actually complain about it, so I didn't file any complaints.

(sorry if this post is TMI, or a little too long. I just saw this thread and decided to relate my experience to everyone.)

sadly there are ignorant Drs in this country as well (I am also in the UK) my husband was circed as an 8yo due to ballooning. That was 30 yrs ago though...

[DocsNemesis]

Oh yeah, wanted to add-my midwives ask parents and if they say yes, they explain why its not needed, the rates in this area, let them ask questions, etc. If they still say yes, she sends them home with *the* circ video (my dh made about 12 copies to DVD and they've been there for over 3 years now). In a year's time, one midwife had 8 couples say they still wanted it done after the talk. After the video, only 1 still insisted (and she said the mom wasnt happy about it). One a year out of...well, they are pretty busy...thats not too shabby.

[cherri0196]

I defiantly got pressured by the delivering OB to circ. (I didn't of course) but i mean he said to me "ok he looks good we can get him circ'ed tomorrow" (This is RIGHT after delivery, i mean he just stitched me up and im still laying there bleeding when he says this to me) Im like "um..no were NOT getting him circ'ed" and of course he spews all this non-sense about it being cleaner and healthier (my pro-circ. family is in the room too and eating up every word he says) and its better to just get it done now...yeah ok...im not getting it done. So that fiasco was over, and i really had no other problems, my lactation consultant just asked me if I was circ'ing him out of curiosity and i said "no" and she said "good" the pedi, came in and looked at him but didn't ask about getting him circ'ed. and the day i was getting discharged (like an hour before they let me go) one of the recovery nurse's walks in and goes "oh did you want him circumcised?" I said "no" and she just walked out. So that was good its like they forgot about me till i was about to walk out the door, LOL. and then the delivering OB (again) came in just to check on me and see how i was doing, said i looked good and was discharging me and before he walked out he say's "If you change your mind about getting him circ'ed, let me know, i can do it"

Thanks for the support butt head!!! Luckily i just got stuck with him delivering, I LOVE my regular OB but too bad he couldn't deliver for me :-( oh well, next time ;-) he he. Im not really sure if he is pro-circ./ anti circ. the visit after my 20 week u/s and i found out its a boy he asked me if i was going to circ. and he just circled "yes" on the chart before i could even answer but when i said no he just scratched it out and circled "no" but didn't say anything to me about it. He is Spanish (not stereotyping here) so i would imagine he is intact himself and his son should be intact too?? who knows though?

Anyway, sorry that got long. IMO yes doctors do inappropriately pressure parents to circumcise and it is WRONG!!