Is circumcision "a bizarre American custom"?

[jared2]

See story:

http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ats-ap_...hnews-headlines

[dbermanmd]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jared2 @ Jun 15 2006, 10:28 AM) [snapback]271610[/snapback]</div>

See story:

http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ats-ap_...hnews-headlines
[/b]

As with other "customs" that can be found anywhere in this world and not just America, it is derrived from religious practices. Is it bizarre - only if you think it is.

[efusco]

I wouldn't use the word 'bizarre' or call it an "American" custom. But it certainly has been shown that it's basicly just a cosmetic surgery of no medical import. There are some serious weirdos that get involved in the circumcision debate...those bitter at their parents for allowing them to be mutilated, those that have had a foreskin 'recreated' to correct the circumcision.

The arguements for the health benefits are mostly mute at this point. There is still some increased risk of UTI and STDs, but it's hardly enough to be significant.

[Mystery Squid]

is an unnecessary medical procedure that could cause him long-term physical and psychological harm[/b]

Yeah, OK, idiot... Pretty much anything can cause long-term physical and psychological harm...

I suppose the 90% of the male population that's circumsized are at oh-so high risk...

It's also a matter of hygiene...

[KMO]

It's odd that it's customary in America.

When groups do it for "religious" reasons, well that doesn't seem so odd; religious types do all sorts of weird things, and chopping bits of anatomy off as some sort of sacrifice - well whatever floats your boat. (But why inflict it on an infant that hasn't had any choice in the matter?)

But it seems very odd to do something so drastic just by force of habit. That article says that the rate has at least dropped from 90% to 60% in the US. I can't get any decent figures for the current rate of infant circumcision in the UK - I've seen online sources quoting figures from 5% to 20%. I suspect a large number of those are for religious reasons.

[dbermanmd]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Jun 15 2006, 10:48 AM) [snapback]271617[/snapback]</div>

I wouldn't use the word 'bizarre' or call it an "American" custom. But it certainly has been shown that it's basicly just a cosmetic surgery of no medical import. There are some serious weirdos that get involved in the circumcision debate...those bitter at their parents for allowing them to be mutilated, those that have had a foreskin 'recreated' to correct the circumcision.

The arguements for the health benefits are mostly mute at this point. There is still some increased risk of UTI and STDs, but it's hardly enough to be significant.
[/b]

The person who started this thread has a real, excuse the pun, erection for this country. Sometimes I question why he moved here - although I am sure given the nature of every one of his threads about this country being negative, he does too.

Trust me, there are tons of, excuse the pun again, pricks around this globe, and they are not all limited to this great country.

Now if he wants to get a bit smart about this and leave his hatred for this country behind him for a few seconds, he can start a thread on female circumcision

[TheForce]

All I have to say is watch Penn and Teller: Bullshit! Season 3 episode 1 titled Circumcision. Circumcision is wrong and not needed.

On a side note Penn and Teller: Bullshit! is a great show and I highly recommend every one watch all the episodes. It has every thing you ever wanted in a TV show. Magic, Nudity, Profanity, Comedy, Drama, Action, ect...

Here is a link to the topics they cover.

http://epguides.com/PennandTellerBullshit/

[jared2]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KMO @ Jun 15 2006, 11:13 AM) [snapback]271628[/snapback]</div>

It's odd that it's customary in America.

When groups do it for "religious" reasons, well that doesn't seem so odd; religious types do all sorts of weird things, and chopping bits of anatomy off as some sort of sacrifice - well whatever floats your boat. (But why inflict it on an infant that hasn't had any choice in the matter?)

But it seems very odd to do something so drastic just by force of habit. That article says that the rate has at least dropped from 90% to 60% in the US. I can't get any decent figures for the current rate of infant circumcision in the UK - I've seen online sources quoting figures from 5% to 20%. I suspect a large number of those are for religious reasons.
[/b]

I agree. And speaking of abusing babies, I just read an article about the hazards of not breastfeeding.
See link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/13/health/1...&pagewanted=all

[dbermanmd]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jared2 @ Jun 15 2006, 11:20 AM) [snapback]271635[/snapback]</div>

I agree. And speaking of abusing babies, I just read an article about the hazards of not breastfeeding.
See link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/13/health/1...&pagewanted=all
[/b]

Do you think the government should regulate circumcision and breast feeding?

[efusco]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KMO @ Jun 15 2006, 10:13 AM) [snapback]271628[/snapback]</div>

It's odd that it's customary in America.

When groups do it for "religious" reasons, well that doesn't seem so odd; religious types do all sorts of weird things, and chopping bits of anatomy off as some sort of sacrifice - well whatever floats your boat. (But why inflict it on an infant that hasn't had any choice in the matter?)

But it seems very odd to do something so drastic just by force of habit. That article says that the rate has at least dropped from 90% to 60% in the US. I can't get any decent figures for the current rate of infant circumcision in the UK - I've seen online sources quoting figures from 5% to 20%. I suspect a large number of those are for religious reasons. [/b]

I'm guessing that the huge majority of the reason for the recent decline in circumcision rates in the US is due to the fact that Medicaid stopped paying for them.



My wife insists (as do all the other pediatricians) on cash up front to do circs unless it's covered by the patient's insurance. At $700 it's a bit out of the range of the average Medicaid patient.



I saw the Penn & Teller episode. Although I agree with their point of view the majority of the time and don't mind the fact that they are completely biased in the way they present the info I thought the circumcision episode was particularly one sided. My wife did the circs on both of our boys and they both slept through the proceedure and were much more upset about being strapped down than anything else.



In the 'old days' no anesthetic was used and we didn't know as much about infant pain. Now we know that glucose releases endorphins and that a nerve block can avert any pain. Complications are rare and I know of very very few circumcised men who are upset about the fact that their parents had them circumcised.



It's certainly a personal/family issue, but I'm glad that the gov't/my taxes are not paying for them any more.