'circumcision' performed without consent

Men's health
1

I was told I had to have a circumcision but instead I received a procedure called a dorsal slit, which is not the same thing at all. Nobody told me anything about this, before or afterwards, & I only discovered by accident that I'd actually had some horrendous operation I'd never heard of.

The conversations I had with doctors, the consent form, even my medical records - nothing was said about this. Surely this can't be allowed. I never would agreed to the operation if I had been told about it in advance, as the results are very different from a circumcision.

2

Hey dude,

certainly a dorsal slit and circumcision are not one and the same, and if you consented to a circumcision, and that was all that was on the consent form, and there was no "we might have to see what procedure we might do at the time, and we might do a dorsal slit if more appropriate" discussion then you have a right to be indignant.

However if you are having a procedure for phimosis for example then a dorsal slit would not be uncommon, as it is easier and safer than a formal circumcision, and achieves what you need, ie a forsekin that retracts and isn't tight any longer.

It sounds like, though you haven't mentioned it, you were wanting a circumcision, ie to be left with no foreskin at all?

A dorsal slit though initially odd, as you have a loose foreskin, will gradually remodel and you will end up with a penis with a foreskin, which IMHO is a good thing, but one with a much looser foreskin than before

In the current NHS a request for a "circumcision" with no good medical reason will fall on deaf ears. if doen for medical reasons then they may just do the most appropriate procedure.

If you paid for a circumcision and didn't get it then you have a right to be agrieved

Perhaps best going back to your GP or the surgeon if you have the opportunity, even write to him/her, and enquire why you have a DS rather than a circumcision.

Discovering by accident that you had a dorsal slit is a curious thing, does that mean you were happy with the operation until you found out it was called a dorsal slit rather than a circumcision?

Best

CF

3

thanks for responding. Regarding your final point, that I was happy with the operation until I

found out what it was called - this is not the case. When I first saw the results of what I

thought was a circumcision I was mortified. I went to my GP & was told that this was perfectly

normal, & I went back a few months later & was told the same thing, ie all is well. At no

point, before the operation or afterwards, was I informed that I had received something called

a dorsal slit. I have my medical records & every single document, including the consent form, says

circumcision.

I specifically asked for a circumcision - & this is recorded in the files - and of course I didn't

say 'Oh, by the way, don't perform a dorsal slit' because I would have had no idea what this was,

and even after I'd actually had a dorsal slit I still didn't know what it was because not one of

the medical people I had any contact with, before and after the operation, said anything about

something called a dorsal slit.

There was nothing open-ended or ambiguous about the consent. It couldn't be more specific - I signed a form consenting to a circumcision, not a form that said ' Do whatever it takes to cure a condition called phimosis' .

You said 'A dorsal slit though initially odd, as you have a loose foreskin, will gradually remodel', This is absolutely not the case with me. it looks as grim as it did when I first saw it on the day of the operation,

4

Hi there,

not meant to offend, just trying to discover your circumstances.

sounds like you've had an operation you didn't want, agreed to or expected - whilst needing an operation that sorted out the phimosis.

Can you go back and see your GP, perhaps a different one to the one who said "it's normal" to you - clearly s/he is not the one living with what you describe as a 'grim' foreskin, and you are.

If you can be calm and rational about it, though it sounds like you are understandably upset by this, explain that you feel you had an operation that you hadn't agreed to and that you are unhappy with the result, appearance, function (or whatever else you feel about this).

Ask if you can be referred back to the surgeon; this should not be an issue, your GP when s/he understands what you are concerned about should be obliging.

If you don't get a favourable response you could write to the practice manager to express your dissatisfaction that you aren't getting something you are entitled to ask for.

Also you could write to the surgeon explaining your unhappiness about the result and not having been consented for what you had done -ie the DS. You should get a response to this.

Ultimately if all else fails write to the medical director at the hospital, as they should investigate this for you.

Sorry about this for you.

Penis appearance is important to us.

Best

CF

5

hey - thanks for responding. I wasn't being critical, far from it. It's probably

my frustration that something as bizarre as this has happened that gave

that impression.

I appreciate the advice. - all the best

6

you have my sympathy friend, i went in for removal of a slight excess of skin on my foreskin which has always been there and my forskin never retracted because of this.  i agreed with my surgeon that he would remove just enough for retraction and normal use, making clear several times under no circumstances did i want a full circumsision.  then after op was over he told me he had to remove slightly more than agreed, but 3 days later when dressing was removed, i had a high and tight full circ.  i have since launched a formal complaint with the hospital and plan to take this as far as i need for justice.  and the butcher involved to be repremanded.

7

Hello,

My friend suffers from phimosis and I found this thread while researching for something afflicting me (BPH).

If you are UK-based and used the NHS for your operation, then you may want to enlist the help of PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service). There will/should be a PALS office at the hospital where surgery was undertaken. Also in the PALS information pack will be information and details for other lines of complaint.

Good luck to you all. John