08/10/2026
A recent New Jersey medical malpractice case is an important reminder that informed consent matters, even for procedures that may feel “routine.”
According to court records, a $5 million settlement was reached after a lawsuit alleged that an infant suffered a partial pe**le amputation during a 2022 circumcision at Hunterdon Medical Center.
The complaint also alleged that the parents were not adequately informed about procedural options, risks, or the different devices and methods that could be used.
Circumcision is an elective procedure, not a medically required part of routine newborn care.
It’s worth remembering that routine newborn circumcision for non-religious reasons is particularly common in the United States compared to many other countries.
Practices and prevalence vary dramatically worldwide based on culture, religion, and societal norms. But routine circumcision for most infants is not common outside the US.
No procedure is completely without risk. Parents deserve information about benefits, risks, alternatives, including doing nothing. Every procedure has risks, elective procedures expose one to risk without clear, absolutely needed benefits.
While severe complications are rare, they do exist, and parents should be aware so they're making informed choices.
Full story below.