***I'm going to mail my letter today. There's no sense in waiting. If you would, please read my new letter in post 18, and let me know if are any big changes that should be made. Thanks to all that had recommendations, and thanks Paq a lot. I think it sounds better now.
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This is a rough draft of a letter that I've wanted to write for a year and a half. It's to my ob/gyn who is the one who brought up the issue of circing my son, and who performed the surgery.
Please be kind but give me constructive criticism. I need to send a letter to her, for my own peace of mind (well, sort of peace).
I just had an idea, and sat down and words came out. I don't want to be too quick to revise it myself, so I'm just going to copy paste what I have.
Thanks!
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Please forgive me for sending this letter so long after the fact, but I have to get this off my chest.
I have to tell you that I am very disappointed in one aspect of the care that I received while I was pregnant and when my son was a newborn. Specifically, what I am referring to is that I really feel that you did not adequately inform me of the risks, benefits, and alternatives to circumcising my son. Furthermore, I feel that YOU are the one who suggested an unnecessary surgery, which in my understanding is unethical for a doctor to do. I believe I did not bring up the idea.
I am deeply disturbed that I had my son circumcised. I cannot believe that I allowed a normal, natural, useful body part to be cut off of him. As a 2 day old baby, no less! On top of that, is the pain that he had to endure for weeks as that very sensitive part of his body healed.
His circumcision did have complications- the skin adhered to itself, and it was a long process in getting it separated with the least amount of pain possible. When I think of all the pain I could have saved my precious baby, by just being informed enough to say "NO!" to this antiquated practice.
I did what I did, and I deeply regret that, and I will not make the same mistake again. Unfortunately, my son has to live with it. I did read, and felt that I researched the subject enough to make an informed decision. Regrettably, I was wrong. I believe that the lack of proper information from you, as my doctor, lead to my decision.
Please do your future patients (the mothers and their sons) a favor, and inform them of the risks of circumcision, and of the alternatives (namely, leaving their child intact). Inform them that the foreskin is nature's way of keeping the penis free from infection from feces and urine. That it is easier to keep an intact penis clean than a circumcised penis, in the first weeks. Inform them of the foreskin's other purposes, and benefits that continue as a man ages. Inform them that the risks (including complications of the surgery itself) do indeed outweigh the benefits, or at least that the benefits do not outweigh the risks.
I have to live with my decision, but perhaps this letter will make you rethink the information you give to parents faced with the same decision, so that they will make a better choice.
*****************
This is a rough draft of a letter that I've wanted to write for a year and a half. It's to my ob/gyn who is the one who brought up the issue of circing my son, and who performed the surgery.
Please be kind but give me constructive criticism. I need to send a letter to her, for my own peace of mind (well, sort of peace).
I just had an idea, and sat down and words came out. I don't want to be too quick to revise it myself, so I'm just going to copy paste what I have.
Thanks!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please forgive me for sending this letter so long after the fact, but I have to get this off my chest.
I have to tell you that I am very disappointed in one aspect of the care that I received while I was pregnant and when my son was a newborn. Specifically, what I am referring to is that I really feel that you did not adequately inform me of the risks, benefits, and alternatives to circumcising my son. Furthermore, I feel that YOU are the one who suggested an unnecessary surgery, which in my understanding is unethical for a doctor to do. I believe I did not bring up the idea.
I am deeply disturbed that I had my son circumcised. I cannot believe that I allowed a normal, natural, useful body part to be cut off of him. As a 2 day old baby, no less! On top of that, is the pain that he had to endure for weeks as that very sensitive part of his body healed.
His circumcision did have complications- the skin adhered to itself, and it was a long process in getting it separated with the least amount of pain possible. When I think of all the pain I could have saved my precious baby, by just being informed enough to say "NO!" to this antiquated practice.
I did what I did, and I deeply regret that, and I will not make the same mistake again. Unfortunately, my son has to live with it. I did read, and felt that I researched the subject enough to make an informed decision. Regrettably, I was wrong. I believe that the lack of proper information from you, as my doctor, lead to my decision.
Please do your future patients (the mothers and their sons) a favor, and inform them of the risks of circumcision, and of the alternatives (namely, leaving their child intact). Inform them that the foreskin is nature's way of keeping the penis free from infection from feces and urine. That it is easier to keep an intact penis clean than a circumcised penis, in the first weeks. Inform them of the foreskin's other purposes, and benefits that continue as a man ages. Inform them that the risks (including complications of the surgery itself) do indeed outweigh the benefits, or at least that the benefits do not outweigh the risks.
I have to live with my decision, but perhaps this letter will make you rethink the information you give to parents faced with the same decision, so that they will make a better choice.