Should Medically Unnecessary Circumcision of Male Infants or Children Be Banned?

[Revoltingest]

The problem I see with banning is that it won't stop the practice. I will simply push it underground where it may be done in more unsanitary and unsafe conditions. Banning it could be potentially dangerous to the infants it's intended to protect.

Should the same reasoning be applied to all of the
various types of female circumcision, including those
comparable in magnitude to male circumcision?

 

[Koldo]

Explain.

If some random Joe were to remove all of Bob's teeth under anesthesia and then implant teeth on his mouth, Bob wouldn't ever have to suffer from tooth pain. But is that sufficient to say that what Joe did was alright? Why would the pain factor be relevant to justify Joe's action?

 

[Koldo]

My response was sarcasm. Was yours?

I was playing along.

 

[Koldo]

So, you recommend mind-reading. Indeed, that is certainly helpful. *rolls eyes*

If you can't read minds, then it is a no.

 

[Revoltingest]

My hubby doesn't recall any pain either. Funnily enough he doesn't recall anything until he was 3

The reasoning (by some) that pain not remembered
is pain acceptable has an interesting implication, ie,
torture of people would be OK if the memory of it
could be erased afterwards.

 

[Koldo]

Since you didn't preface your reply to me with this, I'm left to conclude that your response to me was intended to be offensive.

Rofl. No. Not at all.
I had my reasons to preface my post that way.

 

[YmirGF]

If you can't read minds, then it is a no.

Ah well, what do I care? I have no skin in this game.

The reasoning (by some) that pain not remembered
is pain acceptable has an interesting implication, ie,
torture of people would be OK if the memory of it
could be erased afterwards.

A teensy weensy bit of a stretch, methinks.

 

[Koldo]

Choice is a social construct. Children cannot choose, and we choose things for them that are far more important, detrimental or beneficial. It is irrelevant what you think someone ought to do for their child. You won't pay for any of it. You're aren't interested in their child the way that they are. If the parent chooses to abandon the child, that child is totally screwed; but you already don't care about that particular child. Do you see how you are imposing your will where it is not needed?

I am afraid you might be mistaking me for a typical american right wing conservative.

 

[Revoltingest]

Ah well, what do I care? I have no skin in this game.


A teensy weensy bit of a stretch, methinks.

How so?
Both are momentary pain.
Neither would be remembered later....lets' say 1 week.

 

[We Never Know]

I'm ambivalent on male circumcision, so my position could go either way depending on multiple factors (e.g., the practical considerations of such a ban). Generally, I believe medical decisions should be left for medical professionals and the family of the child to decide, and since circumcision of males can be necessary in a minority of cases, one argument (among a few) that I can see against a ban is that a minority of children could be denied access to a medically necessary procedure because a doctor feared prosecution after deeming it medically necessary.

On the other hand, the vast majority of children don't need circumcision, and it is a permanent body modification. While the risk of adverse effects during or after the procedure is quite low, there's also the question of who would bear responsibility for adverse effects from a medically unnecessary circumcision.

This is one of those issues where I can see strong arguments on both sides, so I'm interested to know what others think so that I can consider other perspectives on the subject.

What are the pros vs the cons?
Does one out weigh the other

 

[YmirGF]

How so?
Both are momentary pain.
Neither would be remembered later....lets' say 1 week.

*Looks at baited hook, swinging enticingly in the breeze*

 

[Revoltingest]

*Looks at baited hook, swinging enticingly in the breeze*

Ad hoc reasoning (rationalization?) tends to suffer
when it's applied more broadly. Then it runs into
unacceptable scenarios.

 

[Brickjectivity]

I am afraid you might be mistaking me for a typical american right wing conservative.

Which kind of typical american right wing conservative am I mistaking you for?

 

[We Never Know]

My hubby doesn't recall any pain either. Funnily enough he doesn't recall anything until he was 3

I don't recall any pain. Heck I don't recall much from 5-6 on down.

 

[Koldo]

Which kind of typical american right wing conservative am I mistaking you for?

The ones that only care about others' children until they are born. The ones that abhor the idea of people having the right to free at point of use health care.

 

[Koldo]

This is no different from parents feeling entitled to beat their children to "educate" them. People used to think that it was no one else's business. But times have changed, and finding it acceptable is no longer the norm.