At the risk of making the OP even more defensive....
.....are you really going to review ALL the studies on circumcision? Over the past 150 years? Even the ones that "show" that circumcision cures epilepsy? And other diseases that we now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that circumcision has nothing to do with? But really, how are you going to distinguish between legitimate studies and illegitimate ones?
And speaking of confirmation bias, how are you going to determine whether and how the pre-existing biases of circumcision researchers affected the study design and outcomes of the studies? Look at the history of circumcision research - it's all about confirmation bias and the search for a rationale for this surgery. In fact, I strongly recommend you read David Gollaher's book on the history of circumcision, paying special attention to the history of circumcision and circumcision research in this country.
And which other body parts are you going to conduct this cost-benefit analysis for to determine whether they should be removed? I'm serious. What makes the foreskin so unique in its superfluousness that it, and it alone, is worthy of consideration for amputation?
And are you going to conduct a similar analysis for your daughter about the benefits of removing the hood of her clitoris and labia? Those are the analogous parts on a woman. Would you want to have your clitoral hood and labia removed? Without your consent?
Speaking of research, you will be interested to read what is lost in circumcision (with references, of course):
http://www.norm.org/lost.html
http://research.cirp.org/
http://research.cirp.org/links1.html
Finally, I submit you have another area for research. You need to research the ethical aspects of cutting off a necessary and important part of your son's body when no immediate medical reason presents itself. Why do you have the right to make this decision about your son's body? What other body parts do you have the right to cut off? Where does your son's right to bodily integrity begin, if not with his genitals? Obviously my questions could be termed biased, but I believe you need to think about your fundamental premise that you have the ethical right to decide whether to cut your son's genitals.
.....are you really going to review ALL the studies on circumcision? Over the past 150 years? Even the ones that "show" that circumcision cures epilepsy? And other diseases that we now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that circumcision has nothing to do with? But really, how are you going to distinguish between legitimate studies and illegitimate ones?
And speaking of confirmation bias, how are you going to determine whether and how the pre-existing biases of circumcision researchers affected the study design and outcomes of the studies? Look at the history of circumcision research - it's all about confirmation bias and the search for a rationale for this surgery. In fact, I strongly recommend you read David Gollaher's book on the history of circumcision, paying special attention to the history of circumcision and circumcision research in this country.
And which other body parts are you going to conduct this cost-benefit analysis for to determine whether they should be removed? I'm serious. What makes the foreskin so unique in its superfluousness that it, and it alone, is worthy of consideration for amputation?
And are you going to conduct a similar analysis for your daughter about the benefits of removing the hood of her clitoris and labia? Those are the analogous parts on a woman. Would you want to have your clitoral hood and labia removed? Without your consent?
Speaking of research, you will be interested to read what is lost in circumcision (with references, of course):
http://www.norm.org/lost.html
http://research.cirp.org/
http://research.cirp.org/links1.html
Finally, I submit you have another area for research. You need to research the ethical aspects of cutting off a necessary and important part of your son's body when no immediate medical reason presents itself. Why do you have the right to make this decision about your son's body? What other body parts do you have the right to cut off? Where does your son's right to bodily integrity begin, if not with his genitals? Obviously my questions could be termed biased, but I believe you need to think about your fundamental premise that you have the ethical right to decide whether to cut your son's genitals.
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