posterous to even suggest that because we have some minuscule risk of disease, we should cut off the foreskin of every little boy.Breast cancer in women is common, says Dr. Denniston, more common than all the purported health risks of the foreskin combined. Does that justify cutting off all breasts at puberty? What about circumcised men and STDs? A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that circumcised men did have a lower incidence of syphilis and HIV. But they had a higher rate of infection with herpes, hepatitis, and chlamydia. Overall, the study authors wrote, We found no evidence of a prophylactic role for circumcision, and a slight tendency in the opposite direction.The bottom line, says Dr. Denniston, is that the alleged benefits of circumcision dont approach the risks.The child struggles against the straps. The foreskin is attached firmly to the glans, and its difficult to pry loose. The doctor scrapes the point of the hemostat in a circular motion around the glans, tearing the skin off the head of the penis. The child continues to buck on the plastic form. This is why the Circumstraint is bolted to the counter.July 3,1991; Oakland, California: While circumcising a 12-hour-old baby, the doctor cuts off one-third of the glans. The severed head is reattached, but the child is disfigured. A court awards the minor plaintiff $256,000.September 12,1992; San Diego, California: During a circumcision, a doctor cuts off a boys glans. The doctor claims that since there is no apparent loss of function, he met the standard of care. A jury awards the minor plaintiff $36,400 in damages.July 18, 1995; Houston, Texas: A 5-year-old boy goes into a coma while being circumcised. He dies a week later.The complication rate for circumcision varies from 2 to 6 percent, says Dr. Van Howe. The average male will have more health problems from being circumcised than from being left alone.Some medical professionals...
