[johniegrad]

I once knew a Pediatrician that saved all the foreskins from circumcisions that he did and sewed them together to make a wallet. The only problem was that, when you rubbed it, it became a suitcase.

[johniegrad]

Just a little circumcision humor there.

[js1138]

I'm with mom on this one. Two and one-half is too old for surgery that has no real medical benefit. My own son is circumcised, so I don't have any strong bias here.

[CSM]

It seems to me that this isn't about the child at all. The child is a tool in this battle for either party to get revenge for previous arguments in the custody battle.

I could be wrong about it, tho'!

[FourtySeven]

Now for the serious opinion: Why is this even an issue, when the father has sole custody? Doesn't "sole custody" MEAN just that anymore, or has our society become so diluted with situational ethics that there can't be any absolutes?

[disclaimer]

I thought Female Genital Mutilation was illegal regardless. Oh, my mistake, they're talking about mutilating a little boy. Carry on.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

A child when he reaches majority should be able to sue both the doctor and the parent for ritual mutilation!

[Mamzelle]

He's going to have a time find a doc--no doc with any sense would do this.

[1stFreedom]

>>granted sole custody

Case closed, should be thrown out of court.

Only avenue, IMO, is a change of custody attempt.

[BrynS728]

There are health considerations with this, such as increased risk of infection for uncircumcised individuals. Also it is a fact that the proceedure is much simpler with less post-op complications when done as an infant or small child rather than as an adult

When I worked in the hospital, I saw first hand an adult who had to undergo circumcision due to chronic infection of the foreskin, and it was the most painful looking thing I've ever seen. (I saw the post-op result, not the actual procedure) I believe that more than 120 stitches were used. After that, I vowed that any male children of mine would be circumcised as an infant so they would not have to endure something like this as an adult. That said, IMO if this child is to be circumcised, do it now, rather than letting him "decide himself" as an adult. I can't believe any adult would willingly choose this.

Finally, since the doctors feel it is an individual decision with no opinion one way or other, then the parent with full custody should decide - in this case, the father.

[US admirer]

< img src="http://www.smartklamp.com/img/img_skopen1.jpg">

http://www.smartklamp.com/parents/thesmartklamp.html

The SmartKlamp® a new invention

The SmartKlamp® is a new, one time use only, circumcision tool, which is designed to create, a safer, faster, and smarter way to perform circumcisions.

The SmartKlamp® is a small plastic device, which workings can be compared with the umbilical cord clamp. It consists of a plastic transparent tube of polycarbonate, and a white clamping mechanism of nylon. It is very light and easy to use.

The SmartKlamp® has been designed using the latest plastic technology, and is produced according the highest quality standards in an ISO 9002, EN 46000 certified plant in Singapore.

Through its unique design the SmartKlamp® provides for full protection of the penis during the circumcision, and gives a cosmetically predictable result. It makes the circumcision practically bloodless, which helps reducing the risk of spreading infections like AIDS or Hepatitis.

The SmartKlamp® comes in various sizes, from newborn (10mm) to adult, and is individually EO sterilized packed. Every SmartKlamp® is supplied with a size-0-meter, to ensure you select the right size of device.

Safety aspects:

Thanks to the special design the penis is protected from the scalpel throughout the circumcision procedure, so no unwanted cuts can take place
There is practically no blood during the circumcision, as the blood vessels of the foreskin are trapped by the SmartKlamp®, so no spreading of infections like AIDS or Hepatitis, and no antibiotics are required.
No stitching needed as the SmartKlamp takes over the wound healing process.
The SmartKlamp is sterilized, and can only be used once.
The SmartKlamp is made according the most modern plastic technology, which guarantees a consistent and very strong and reliable device

[HairOfTheDog]

What I can't stand are people who can't figure these solutions out between them without going to the courts... Good grief people, be reasonable.

[Modernman]

For reference, the following is the official position of the AMA and the American Academy of Pediatrics:

Existing scientific evidence demonstrates potential medical benefits of newborn male circumcision; however, these data are not sufficent to recommend routine neonatal circumcision. In the case of circumcision; in which there are potential benefits, 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. To make an informed choice, parents of all infants should be given 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 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 be done only on infants who are stable and healthy.

[Elsie]

Let him make decisions to also:

Play in the street,
Go to school,
Eat his veggies,
Get smallpox vaccination,
When to be weaned,
And, lastly...
Whether to empty his diaper or not..........

[aruanan]

"Everyone has their bias. But we try to base recommendations on sound medical evidence and it just isn't there to say yes or no," Dr. Ken Wible said.

The medical evidence isn't there to say yes (someone married to a circumcised man may be less likely to get cervical cancer). But it is there to say no (someone who is circumcised definitely will lose the complete functionality of the sexual apparatus and the way it was supposed to work). Unfortunately a lot of opposition to leaving the baby uncircumcised as he was made is of the kind voiced by a sister-in-law: "Eeeuuuu! Of course we're going to circumcise him! Otherwise we'd have to clean it all the time!"

Yeah, and why not just get the kid a colostomy, too, until he's old enough to start wiping his own butt?

[mens_issues]

As the circumcision of girls is illegal, boys should at least have a chance to wait until they are old enough to make an informed decision. And in almost all cases, that decision should be no, as the benefits seldom outweigh the risks.