Parents, who prefer to stay unnamed, want the relevant zakat (tithe)-collection bodies to provide financial assistance for reconstructive surgery after their son’s botched circumcision on Dec 15.

It was reported that a doctor of a private clinic at Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, accidentally amputated the glans penis (penis head) of the nine-year-old child with a pair of scissors.

The doctor then reportedly tried to stitch the penis head back on, but it was supposedly not properly aligned.

“When he realised that he was not able to help the boy, he referred us to a specialist and offered to pay the medical bills,” said the boy’s father in a press conference outside the main building of Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) today.

According to the couple’s lawyer, P Uthayakumar, the child was immediately transported to a private specialist medical centre, where they informed the parents that the severed penis head should have been kept in a plastic bag with an ice saline solution bath, and that they were also unable to help.

A referral letter was drawn up for the boy to be transported to HKL, where a surgery was conducted almost immediately.

However, the penis head started turning black the next day and by Dec 27, it had to be completely amputated.

The child has been hospitalised for 15 days and is suffering pain and mental anguish, according to Uthayakumar.

“I don’t want my child to be disabled, I want my child to be normal.

“I would like to ask for help from any organisation that could help send my son abroad or anything,” the father pleaded.

Uthayakumar and the boy’s parents would like HKL to ask both the Pusat Pungutan Zakat and Baitulmal under the Federal Territory Islamic Council (MAIWP) for financial assistance so the child could be treated at a hospital abroad capable of conducting the proper reconstructive surgery.

When asked if any legal action will be taken against the doctor, the lawyer said that they were still waiting for the medical reports from HKL before they consider taking action.

A letter for assistance on the matter has been sent to HKL director Dr Zaininah Mohd Zain and Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

This is not the first time in recent weeks that a circumcision procedure has gone wrong.

A 10-year-old boy also lost his penis head in a laser technique circumcision last week.

Luckily for him, his genitals were successfully reattached by HKL doctors on the same day of the incident.

Health Ministry launches probe

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry in a statement confirmed both cases.

Health Ministry secretary-general Noor Hisham Abdullah said in the case of the nine-year-old, he was brought to HKL's emergency department at 3.34pm on Dec 15 after the botched circumcision by the private clinic.

"In HKL, he was brought into general operation theatre for emergency surgery (exploration and replantation microsurgery).

"This technically very difficult surgery took about 3.5 hours and was done on urgent basis on that same afternoon.

"It is important to note there was a significant delay in the patient to reach HKL (which was beyond the control of HKL.

"Currently, he is still in the ward for regular wound dressing," he said.

As for the case of the 10-year old, Noor Hisham said the boy was brought to the Emergency Department of HKL at 11.40pm on Dec 20 after being referred from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre.

He said the boy had a previous circumcision a year a go but his parents were not happy about it and a "redo-circumcision" was done by a doctor in Cheras on Dec 20 at 8.30pm.

"The glans penis was totally amputated during the procedure using diathermy," he said.

Noor Hisham said at HKL, the boy underwent a technically difficult surgery.

"Both cases were managed by the senior experienced consultants - a team consisting of plastic and reconstructive surgeons, urologist and also child psychiatrist.

"Currently, both patients can urinate normally. However, it is too early to preduct other physiological disabilities they may face in adulthood.

"The timing of presentation to our health facility for treatment is vital, as late presentation is associated with lesser favourable outcomes.

"Given the circumstances, the well-equipped, qualified and experienced surgical team at HKL had approached both cases skillfully and with their utmost dedication," he said.

Noor Hisham also expressed concern at the occurrence of these cases due to botched procedures in private clinics.

"As such, the Medical Practice Division of the Health Ministry is investigating the circumstances that led to both botched circumcision cases, and will probe further the practice of circumcision procedure done in the country to minimise occurrence of such cases," he said.