Idea for a requirement for those who insist on circ

[K703]

I recall reading somewhere about a state (I don't know which one) that passed a law requiring mothers who want to undergo an abortion to watch the procedure being done (this law was supported by pro-lifers trying to discourage abortion).

I thought that maybe a similar law would be good for parents who want to circumcise their sons: They would have to watch a circumcision video showing the procedure being done before agreeing to have it done on their sons. Although I'd prefer a law banning circ altogether, this seems to be the next best alternative to me (like the pro-life people mentioned above not able to ban abortion altogether but using "scare tactics" to discourage it).

[LadyMage]

I think that is a great idea! The only thing, though, is that they probably wouldn't allow sound- they'd have a voice over doctor explaining the sugar-coated procedure. They wouldn't show the baby's face (for obvious reasons as well as privacy aggreements) so you wouldn't see the absolute AGONY the baby was in. They would probably do a lot of cutout scenes to 'explain' the procedure so it would make it seem like it did only take a second, not the reality of it taking up to 7, 8, 9, 10 minutes like they REALLY do. They would of course cite all the 'health benefits' of circumcision during the cutout scenes so who knows if any of the bad would sink in. Plus, what about teenage pregnancies? If the grandmother wants it circed, her daughter has like no say, so would they show the video to the mom and grandma?

Really, it is a great idea, but there is so much that would have to be thought out about it, screened so that it is 'politically correct' because Goddess forbid we OFFEND someone. :

~LM

[NaturalMindedMomma]

I know a couple where the father was present.

The mother should have to hold down the baby while the procedure is done. That would be PERFECT!

[Treece]

I don't think the mother should have to hold the baby as this would be even more traumatizing to the child. I completely agree that they should have to watch an unedited circumcision. How about the one where the father asks the doc if he used anesthesia?

Added: They show patient faces in videos all the time, all that needs be done is a release signed.

[savvybabygrace]

I agree - this is a wonderful idea...but only if the video is unedited, showing the baby's reaction to everything.

[ananas]

I agree, absolutely everyone should be required to watch one before deciding to do it. I hear SO many people say that after seeing one, they never would have done it to their son.

[tlh]

It looks like it has worked and been promoted for quite some time.


Pediatricians should be outspoken child advocates. We strongly agree with Gellis that physicians should become much more vigorous than they have been in discouraging circumcision of the newborn. Wallerstein's conclusion is that "routine infant circumcision is archaic, useless, potentially dangerous, and therefore should cease." Videotaped counseling is perhaps a means to that end.

http://www.cirp.org/library/procedure/enzenauer3/

[fruitful womb]

I sent a video to someone I know expecting a boy and she said it wasn't real. The length some will go to deny the reality.

[robertandenith]

Originally Posted by ananas

I agree, absolutely everyone should be required to watch one before deciding to do it. I hear SO many people say that after seeing one, they never would have done it to their son.

a friend from Canada watch a circ video in her prenatal class and that's how she decided not to circ her sons. She as 2.

[kriket]

Where I totally agree, I don't think you would have to have the writhing in agony part even. Just looking at stills of freshly circed babies makes me cringe and sick to my stomach. It just looks wrong. There is a Wiki page on circumcision that has pics of grown male penises, one circed one intact. I think those should be shown as well. The intact penis looks healthy, normal and penisey. The circed penis looks strained, shaved, pulled, icky. I think because we keep penises hidden no one has the opportunity to really see what really happens!

[hakunangovi]

A few years ago I was sitting in a tire shop waiting for the car, and struck up a conversation with a Mom who was also waiting , and obviously not too far from her due date. She told me that during prenatal classes they had been shown a video of a baby being circumcised, and after seeing that "There is no way we're doing that if this is a boy".
I felt so happy. I congratulated her , and gave her the web addresses for Nocirc and Mothers against Circumcision in case she needed some back up info.

[minkajane]

Originally Posted by LadyMage

Plus, what about teenage pregnancies? If the grandmother wants it circed, her daughter has like no say, so would they show the video to the mom and grandma?

This is not true. In teen pregnancies, the mother of the child has complete right to make any decisions regarding that child. The grandmother has no say over the child unless full legal custody has been granted to her. She may have influence over the mother's decision, but she can NOT legally sign to have the baby circumcised.