Circumcision Debate: A Mom's Perspective
Circumcision is the surgical removal of the skin covering the tip of the penis. For many families, circumcision is a religious ritual. It can also be a matter of family tradition, personal hygiene or preventive health care. Others view circumcision as unnecessary and disfiguring. After circumcision, it isn’t generally possible to re-create the appearance of an uncircumcised penis. (SOURCE: Mayo Clinic)
American Academy of Pediatrics: For the first time in 13 years, the American Academy of Pediatrics revised their stance on infant circumcision, saying the benefits outweigh the risks. However, the organization stopped short of recommending circumcision routinely for all infant boys, saying it’s still up to parents to weight the health, cultural and religious implications to make the best decision for their child. Circumcision has been shown to lower the risk of certain STDs, penile cancer, and urinary tract infections.
Intactivists: Passionate opponents of circumcision, who sometimes call themselves “intactivists,” call the procedure barbaric and compare it to female genital cutting. The Internet has helped anti-circumcision groups get their message out. Some have even tried to make it illegal. Activists in San Francisco proposed a measure to ban circumcision, but it was struck down by California Governor Jerry Brown. Courts in Germany recently called circumcision “grievous bodily harm” and ruled that the “fundamental right of the child to bodily integrity outweighed the fundamental rights of the parents.” However, in December of 2012, lawmakers in Germany approved a bill to keep male infant circumcision legal.
(SOURCES: http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/27/health/aap-circumcision-recommendation/index.html, http://richarddawkins.net/news_articles/2012/12/12/circumcision-remains-legal-in-germany#.UNCZXW88B8E)
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American Academy of Pediatrics Circumcision Policy Statement