ages and risks. Still, by the following year, the rate was down to 59 percent. Dr. Schoen chaired the AAP task force that made that reversal. He still stands by the position, claiming that the foreskin is the genital equivalent of the appendix, and that newborn circumcision is a preventive health measure analogous to immunization.The most important health benefit of circumcision is the decreased risk of urinary-tract infections, explains Dr. Schoen, citing a well-known 1985 study, which he says has since been overwhelmingly confirmed by other studies. But Martin Altschul, M.D., a pediatrician and M.I.T.-trained mathematician, has reexamined the evidence and finds it fraught with problems.The whole body of research on this issue is a how-to-lie-with-statistics classic, argues Dr. Altschul. Depending on how you collect the data, you can get almost any result you want. Dr. Altschuls own research also found that many of the urinary-tract infections in uncircumcised boys were attributable to congenital anomalies. Recently, several studies have suggested that neonatal circumcision may actually increase the infection rate.Dr. Schoen cites two other medical benefits of circumcision, namely decreased risks of developing penile cancer and contracting sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV and syphilis.Youre more likely to be struck by lightning than to suffer from penile cancer, counters Dr. Van Howe. Japan, Norway, Finland, and Denmark all have lower rates than the United States, and they dont circumcise their boys.In fact, in 1996, representatives of the American Cancer Society wrote a letter to the AAP in which they pointed out that fatalities caused by circumcision accidents may approximate the mortality rate from penile cancer. The letter also stated that perpetuating the mistaken belief that circumcision prevents cancer is inappropriate.Penile cancer is extremely rare-less than one case for every 100,000 men, adds Dr. Altschul. Its pre...
