Denmark May Ban Circumcision

Another unbiased, balanced article from the American Academy of Pediatrics - AAP doesn't recommend circumcision as a routine practice but recognizes parents' right to choose, specifically noting that religious, cultural and ethnic traditions/beliefs are all legitimate factors in making this decision as a parent. AAP doesn't consider this mutilation or child abuse, even if it views this practice as not medically necessary. In addition, and contrary to what some have written here, AAP finds that analgesia is safe and effective.

Scientific evidence insufficient to warrant routine circumcision: AAP
AAP Task Force on Circumcision

The full text of this policy statement including references appears in the March Pediatrics.

Summary and recommendations

Existing scientific evidence demonstrates potential medical benefits of newborn male circumcision; however, these data are not sufficient to recommend routine neonatal circumcision. In the case of circumcision, in which there are potential benefits and risks, yet the procedure is not essential to the child's current well-being, parents should determine what is in the best interest of the child. In order to make an informed choice, parents of all male infants should be given accurate and unbiased information and be provided the opportunity to discuss this decision. It is legitimate for parents to take into account cultural, religious, and ethnic traditions, in addition to the medical factors, when making this decision. Analgesia is safe and effective in reducing the procedural pain associated with circumcision; therefore, if a decision for circumcision is made, procedural analgesia should be provided. If circumcision is performed in the newborn period, it should only be done on infants who are stable and healthy.

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Heather, I disagree. It should be a choice for the boy, NOT the parents (which usually means the subjective decision of the doctor delivering, not informed consent). It's something that can and should wait. Believe me, I am a victim of circumcision and I've NEVER forgiven my parents. It's an incredibly hateful thing for them to have done and there was no harm in letting me control my own body.
The anecdotal stories you've shared are sad, but extrememly rare. Circumcision is almost never needed and infections, if they ever happen (99% of the time they don't; actual statistic), respond just as a throat infection does: 1 week at the most and you're done, likely forever. The guy with the crooked penis could EASILY have that remedied, surgically or otherwise, without resorting to circumcision (radical and irreversible) and guess what, he may have the problem anyway. You're more likely to have complications from a circumcision (tight erections, pulling [re: crooked penis], skin flaps, irregular hair growth, pot marks, or worse...) than you are to ever experience an infection or come congential oddity in your foreskin.
I think it's silly to say it's just a piece of skin. The only people who say this either don't have a penis or are circumcised. Would you volunteer to cut off your labia, Heather? Is labia just skin? Perhaps we should cut that off to in the off chance it could get infected.
Also, this article is misleading. Circumcision isn't controversial AT ALL in Denmark. Literally, almost no one is circumcised, aside from those who do it for religious reasons.

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Circumcision eliminates the risk of phimosis, which affects 1 in 10 older boys and men. This condition refers to a tight foreskin that cannot be pulled back fully, so making cleaning under it, and passing urine difficult.
Circumcision reduces by up to 5 times the risk of the man's female partner being infected by chlamydia or getting cervical cancer (which is caused by human papilloma virus). One mom blogged: Some states are now trying to force young girls to have to have the HPV vaccine. The HPV vaccine (about 60% effective) is meant to protect against the Human Papillomavirus which causes genital warts and can lead to cervical cancer is a woman. So here the laws are forcing this vaccine to help to prevent cervical cancer but why are they not making it mandatory for the boys to be circumcised. Circumcision (about 60% effective too) reduces the risk of cervical cancer just like the vaccine does.
Lots of men in care homes have to be circ’d in their eighties and nineties because they develop foreskin problems through incontinence often accompanied by senility and the inability to retract them and perform personal hygiene for themselves. Care givers, not surprisingly, often neglect to look after this detail for them.
These days many preteens have sex, usually without a condom. You got your son vaccinated to protect him. He's twice as likely to get STDs and aids without a circumcision. 1/3 of very young teen girls already have at least 1 (to 4) STDs. Obviously boys have STDs also. Some of these STDs have no cure and are for life. Painful urinary tract infections are also very common.
Dr. Tom Wiswell examined the United States (US) Armed Forces records of over 200,000 newborn boys and to his surprise found that uncircumcised boys were 10 to 20 times more likely to develop severe kidney infections in the first year of life.
There’s more, but you get the idea. Male circumcision eliminates or greatly reduces the dangers of our sons and daughters having preventable medical problems, some serious, some fatal. This is true even if parents choose circumcision for religious reasons, hygiene or looks. And of course, that is if you get to choose...

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circumsion was GODS idea if we have A PROBLEM with that take it up with HIM!!!! I believe HE is far, far smarter than we are..........

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Removing the clitoral hood and foreskin are the same surgery.If one is banned both should be or both should be legal so both sexes have equal rights.

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I was circumcised out of hedgemony. My dad was, my moms friends all told her that it's healthier. I really really really resent it. I lost much respect for my parents when I grew up to find out about intact genitals and how they function. I think the procedure to be backwards and fundamentally violent as it objectifies the child.

If I wanted to get circumcised, then I would have had my entire life to arrive at that decision. This applies to religious motivations as well; I would want my body to reflect my religious beliefs rather than be a reminder of someone else's beliefs. Beliefs which enact disrespect.

I do not forgive my parents. I will be glad to see male circumcision banned. Sparring a ban, to at least have it heavily discouraged by the medical community at large would be a step in the right direction.

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Seriously? I live in Denmark and I couldn't be more proud. If anyone would put their child trough circumsition, they obviously haven't read up on the facts about what it really does. It's so cruel. Don't believe me? Try watching an actual circumsition. With the actual sound, no music over. Listen to the poor child (Also males) scream in agony and absolute terror as they take two pinchers to hold the foreskin in place and then put a knife down their penis to remove the foreskin from the actual penis and then rip it open. Yes it is done while the child is awake and no it's not just a flap of skin.

Try actually reading up on what it is before you talk about banning it being the bad thing to do.

Keep your kids safe and out of harm - don't circumsize them.

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