Do you consider circumcision child abuse?

[Alceste]

I think if a minor, health-related procedure is considered abuse by someone, then they should thank their lucky stars that their life is so smooth and easy.

In what way is circumcision health related?

 

[Kilgore Trout]

In what way is circumcision health related?

AAP: Health benefits of circumcision outweigh the risks - CNN.com

 

[Father Heathen]

So would you be in favour of prohibiting circumcisions by people other than medical professionals (mohels, for instance) and done in non-sterile environments (homes and synagogues, for instance)?

It's a surgical procedure, so it should only be conducted by licensed medical professionals following proper standards and regulations.

Post 46 is a straw man.

How so? It implies the same logic; X is unnecessary with proper cleaning, therefore X is abusive in the case that it causes pain.

 

[Father Heathen]

In what way is circumcision health related?

#94

 

[Breathe]

Likewise, properly brushing teeth makes a visit to the dentist (another purported rarity among the English ) unnecessary, right?

I went to the dentists last Tuesday.

 

[Caladan]

So would you be in favour of prohibiting circumcisions by people other than medical professionals (mohels, for instance) and done in non-sterile environments (homes and synagogues, for instance)?

A Mohel is a medically trained man, he is trained to preform circumcision. In addition many of today's men who perform circumcision are doctors. In fact every rabbi who preformed circumcision on my friends baby boys was also a doctor.

 

[Alceste]

AAP: Health benefits of circumcision outweigh the risks - CNN.com

Meh, still skeptical. If a guy wants to snip off his foreskin by choice to reduce these risks, power to him. Other guys might prefer condoms and proper penis washing. It's imposing the procedure on a non-consenting infant I consider abusive.

 

[Father Heathen]

Meh, still skeptical.

Of course you are, because you didn't approach the subject or the data objectively. However, what you call "skepticism" I call "willful ignorance".

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Meh, still skeptical. If a guy wants to snip of his foreskin by choice to reduce these risks, power to him. Other guys might prefer condoms and proper penis washing. It's imposing three procedure on a non-consenting infant I consider abusive.

That's certainly your prerogative. However, you asked how it was a health procedure, and I provided a source outlining why the American Academy on Pediatrics thinks it is, based on various research, studies, and statistics. The AAP is hardly fringe or extreme, and tends to be quite measured and reasoned in its recommendations, so I see no compelling, objective reason to think it isn't a health issue.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

How so? It implies the same logic; X is unnecessary with proper cleaning, therefore X is abusive in the case that it causes pain.

Have you ever been to a dentist? Your analogy suggests you haven't.

Take x-rays (one component of a dental checkup): please explain how brushing your baby teeth properly ensures that your unemerged adult teeth will come in straight.

 

[Father Heathen]

please explain how brushing your baby teeth properly ensures that your unemerged adult teeth will come in straight.

Explain how properly cleaning your penis prevents phimosis.

 

[Alceste]

Explain how properly cleaning your penis prevents phimosis.

Circumcision is a possible treatment for that particular rare condition and a couple of others. We don't go to the dentist to have fillings for cavities that don't exist yet, do we? "I know my teeth are fine, but you'd better knock them out and give me dentures just in case..."

 

[Sleeppy]

Circumcision is a possible treatment for that particular rare condition and a couple of others. We don't go to the dentist to have fillings for cavities that don't exist yet, do we? "I know my teeth are fine, but you'd better knock them out and give me dentures just in case..."

Not smart to condemn prevention though, is it?

 

[Alceste]

Not smart to condemn prevention though, is it?

It depends what you think you're preventing and how. The condition FH mentioned is rare, and when it occurs, circumcision might be recommended as a treatment. In general, we don't treat medical conditions until they occur.

 

[Sleeppy]

It depends what you think you're preventing and how. The condition FH mentioned is rare, and when it occurs, circumcision might be recommended as a treatment. In general, we don't teary medical conditions until they occur.

Whatever you feel best. Your children are blessed with or without. Just make sure you vaccinate them, woman.

 

[Alceste]

Whatever you feel best. Your children are blessed with or without. Just make sure you vaccinate them, woman.

Vaccinations should be dealt with on a case by case basis. Polio yes. Flu no.

 

[Me Myself]

Given what I read I think I am changing my mind on this one.

It does have reasonable health benefits, and the pain does seem to be short lived.

 

[Alceste]

Given what I read I think I am changing my mind on this one.

It does have reasonable health benefits, and the pain does seem to be short lived.

None of the health benefits listed require that a baby be cut. Any reduced risk of adult conditions like STD s could be reduced just as surely by allowing men to decide for themselves whether to have the surgery. I would hope most men would choose condoms instead, which are far more effective than circumcision at preventing diseases.

Penis surgery to prevent a possible childhood UTI during infancy is like cutting off your finger tips to prevent hangnails.

 

[Levite]

Some time ago I was speaking with a co-worker about circumcision and he was saying that in some countries and by some people it is viewed as child abuse.

If you are one such person who considers it to be child abuse, then isn't it child abuse to separate conjoined twins? In some cases there is the potential of one of them dying and in some cases one or both of them die.

Why is circumcision frowned upon when there is benefit in doing it just as there is benefit in separating conjoined twins? And the down side to separating twins is they could die due to complications, but with circumcision there are no complications. None that I've heard of anyway.

Any thoughts?

There is no reason to think that male circumcision, if done by a properly trained individual with due sterile precautions, and for good reasons, is child abuse. There is negligible risk, if any, to the child, and many traditions consider it of great importance.

Female genital mutilation, however, is not the same, and should indeed be considered child abuse, as it is both needlessly traumatic and deeply physically harmful.

 

[Me Myself]

None of the health benefits listed require that a baby be cut. Any reduced risk of adult conditions like STD s could be reduced just as surely by allowing men to decide for themselves whether to have the surgery. I would hope most men would choose condoms instead, which are far more effective than circumcision at preventing diseases.

Penis surgery to prevent a possible childhood UTI during infancy is like cutting off your finger tips to prevent hangnails.

It decreases risks of several health conditions and quite honestly the only downside is pain that should be shortlived anyways. Life is painful. This has benefits.

It sounds like a very reasonable choice to give parents.