Should the CDC Push Circumcision?
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On the Daily Dish, Hanna waded into fearsome waters when she suggested that the reaction to the CDC's consideration of promoting routine circumcision for babies in the United States has been hysterical. I generally find the anti-circumcision advocates to be on the crazy and rabid side, too. I have two circumcised boys, and I thought at the time that getting snipped bothered my kids a little more than their newborn vaccines and a little less than the spinal tap my older son had when he was a few days old. Plus, I'm prone to be defensive of this ancient Jewish carnal practice.
But on scientific grounds, I still think neutrality on circumcision is the way to go. Yes, the results of circumcising adult men in South Africa were stunning, in terms of HIV prevention. But as I wrote when those findings came out:
Circumcision is a lot trickier to implement widely than other preventive measures like vaccines. This is surgery, after all, which when done on adult men involves weeks of recovery. If the South African findings are borne out, says Seth Berkley, president of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, it may make sense to mount a public-health campaign to circumcise as many men as possible in places like South Africa where AIDS is rampant. But that says little about the United States, where the risk of contracting HIV is low for most people. Which is why the American circumcision debate probably will never be settled by science.
For babies, of course, there are no weeks of recovery (just ineradicable trauma, the antis would retort!) And so the CDC doctors who want to raise declining circumcision rates in the U.S. talk about this as one more "tool in the toolbox" of AIDS prevention. If it's a harmless enough intervention, why not? That rationale works for me, personally. But I don't think it really makes sense as medical policy. The CDC shouldn't push circumcision on American parents who don't want it until the agency has a better answer than, hey, it might help here, too—it just might.
Emily Bazelon is a founding editor of Double X, and a writer and editor at Slate.
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"If it's a harmless enough intervention, why not?"
The very point is that it is not a "harmless enough" intervention. It affects sexual mechanics and sensation. Also, any surgery has inherent risks. Given that this surgery is of zero value (at least in North America, you will agree), and is completely elective, there is no justification for exposing anyone to an unncessary risk.
In case that didn't make my point about risks and consequences, please make your way to the botched circumcisions gallery, where penises featured in porn are displayed for their circumcision flaws, unnoticed by most people:
http://www.circumstitions.com/Restric/Botched3sc.html
These little "imperfections" are very common. Do yourself a favor and don't look at the "too much skin removed" section, it's heart-breaking.
A natural penis is perfectly fine as it is. Circumcision is not beneficial, and is harmful. Circumcision should not be performed on infants.
Jewish bias and ad hominem attacks
By: Purewater | Mon, 08/31/2009 - 15:44
Emily, both you are Hannah Rosin are Jewish. A lot of the blogs and articles defending circumcision usually stem from a Jewish author.
You say those who defend the right for baby boys to leave hospital with all their genitals intact as "Hysterical" and "crazy".
The definition of hysterical is "marked by excessive or uncontrollable emotion."
I wouldn't call the emotion excessive when the CDC may do a terrible thing in recommending a procedure that will negatively effect a great number of future boys.
As for "crazy". Sorry but I find Jews crazy if they believe in all that claptrap in the Old Testament.
At least some Jews have seen sense , like Dr Dean Edell:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAdaryuVvA4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlsUg0sdAtE
Just 'anti-circumcision' advocates?
By: janeslogin | Fri, 08/28/2009 - 09:57
" ... I generally find the anti-circumcision advocates to be on the crazy and rabid side ... "
Isn't it rather commonplace for advocates to be a bit on the crazy or rabid side of their cause?
Missing one issue
By: Kit-Kat | Thu, 08/27/2009 - 17:01
It's not really about the CDC "pushing" circumcision; my understanding is that if the CDC recommends it, it will be covered by Medicaid. This is another reason why the CDCs recommendations for vaccinations are important, as well.