Circumcision Errors

Shortly after babies are born, their parents are asked to make decisions regarding their medical treatment. For example, doctors will usually inquire whether the parents of male babies want their children to be circumcised. Parents decide to circumcise their children for a variety of reasons and typically anticipate that it will be a quick and uncomplicated procedure. While many circumcisions are straightforward, mistakes can be made during the process that cause significant injuries, and in many instances, lifelong harm. If you or your child suffered harm due to circumcision errors, you may be owed compensation, and it is in your best interest to confer with an attorney as soon as possible. The seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers of Arfaa Law Group can inform you of your rights and help you to pursue the full amount of compensation available under the law.

There are numerous complications that can arise out of circumcision errors. For example, if the doctor does not properly sanitize their tools or the area to be circumcised, it can lead to infection of the area of the circumcision, which can lead to additional complications. In some instances, a doctor may inadvertently sever a portion of the penis, causing excessive bleeding, deformity, loss of sensation or sexual function, scarring, and emotional trauma. Circumcision errors can also cause meatal stenosis, which is a condition that causes the urethral opening to narrow, making urination and sexual activity painful. In extreme cases, mistakes during circumcision can cause necrosis of the penile tissue, which can result in the complete loss of the penis.

Circumcision errors often cause painful injuries that, in many instances, require surgical repair. Thus, parties who suffer from circumcision errors will often seek compensation from the doctor who negligently performed the procedure via medical malpractice lawsuits. In most instances, circumcision errors occur due to carelessness. As such, a plaintiff in a lawsuit arising out of circumcision error will typically aver a negligence claim against the defendant.

Under Maryland law, a plaintiff alleging a negligence claim against a defendant must first prove that they were owed a duty by the defendant. In the context of medicine, the duty a defendant owes a plaintiff is to provide treatment that meets the applicable standard of care, which is the care that a reasonable professional who works in the same specialty would offer in a similar situation. The plaintiff then has to demonstrate that the defendant breached the standard of care in some manner. For example, if a physician fails to note a pre-existing condition that increases the risk of complications prior to performing a circumcision, it may constitute a breach of the standard of care. Lastly, the plaintiff needs to establish that the defendant’s deviation from the standard of care proximately caused the plaintiff to suffer actual harm. In other words, that the plaintiff would not have sustained any losses absent the defendant’s acts or omissions.

Typically, the plaintiff will need to hire a medical expert to testify regarding the standard of care the defendant was required to abide by and to link the defendant’s behavior to the plaintiff’s injury. In many cases arising out of circumcision errors, the defendant will attempt to argue that although a mistake was made, the plaintiff did not suffer any lasting harm. Thus, testimony from a medical expert is often needed to prove the extent of the plaintiff’s damages as well.

Although they are rare, circumcision errors can cause permanent physical and psychological harm, and doctors that recklessly make mistakes that injure their patients should be held accountable. If you or your child sustained losses due to an error during circumcision, it is smart to consult an attorney to assess your options. The trusted Baltimore lawyers of Arfaa Law Group are mindful of the trauma circumcision errors can cause, and if we represent you, we will advocate zealously on your behalf. We have an office in Baltimore, where we regularly represent parties in medical malpractice lawsuits. You can contact us via our form online or by calling us at 410-889-1850 to set up a confidential conference.