[BlessedMommy2006]

I mean, don't get me wrong, I wish that it wasn't allowed to be performed on newborns either! But, man, when I read of parents doing an international adoption of an older child, say a three year old and deciding to put them under general anesthesia for circumcision, it nearly makes me sick.

Not only all the risks of the anesthesia and the surgery, but the poor child will be incredibly traumatized! But if the parent wanted any other elective surgery, such as tonsillectomy, it wouldn't be allowed. This is a horrific double standard and I just don't get why it's allowed.

 

[perspective]

Heck, if we want to talk about double standards. Say if there was an international adoption from say China to a Muslim country, and the new parents wanted to circumcise their new daughter (just the foreskin). It would be an international incident, with human rights activists from around the world getting involved!

When older boys get circumcised, they more then often want to circumcise their own sons, but not because they love being circumcised. If you ask them they will say that it was such a horrible experience they don't want their son to have to remember it.

Also since it was so horrible, those men can never believe that they were not put through all that trauma without good reason, so without thinking assume it must be the right choice for their sons as well. Its a horrible, and emotionally painful cycle that our culture is doing little, except trying to keep it going on.

*shakes head*

 

[MommytoB]

Yup, like people don't intentionally believe that they are hurting their babies but that's what they are doing everytime they circ their son's.

They 'assume' there must be a need to do it otherwise why is it still allowed to be a right to do that you know ?

 

[eepster]

Denile needs to be reenforced as often as possible to stand up against the truth. If one starts to admit that it is wrong to circ under X circumstance, then it is harder to say but it's OK in Y and Z circumstance. Sooner than you know it, the obserdity starts to become way way to obvious.

So, for people to continue circ'ing their newborns willy-nilly, it needs to remain acceptable to circ a 3 yo.

 

[PuppyFluffer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by eepster Denile needs to be reenforced as often as possible to stand up against the truth. If one starts to admit that it is wrong to circ under X circumstance, then it is harder to say but it's OK in Y and Z circumstance. Sooner than you know it, the obserdity starts to become way way to obvious. So, for people to continue circ'ing their newborns willy-nilly, it needs to remain acceptable to circ a 3 yo.

I think you are VERY on to something here!

 

[tlh]

One reason is that some babies are too sick when born to have it done but probably the biggest reason it is allowed is simply that it is legal.

 

[Ron_Low]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlessedMommy2006 I mean, don't get me wrong, I wish that it wasn't allowed to be performed on newborns either! But, man, when I read of parents doing an international adoption of an older child, say a three year old and deciding to put them under general anesthesia for circumcision, it nearly makes me sick. Not only all the risks of the anesthesia and the surgery, but the poor child will be incredibly traumatized! But if the parent wanted any other elective surgery, such as tonsillectomy, it wouldn't be allowed. This is a horrific double standard and I just don't get why it's allowed.

The RACP (Australia) doesn't endorse infant circ, but if it is to be done they instruct doctors NOT to circumcise before 6 months.

 

[eepster]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron_Low The RACP (Australia) doesn't endorse infant circ, but if it is to be done they instruct doctors NOT to circumcise before 6 months.

Here I think we are looking at the difference between what is more medically dangerous and what is more psychologically damaging.

Neonatal has obviously greater medical risks, since the baby is small and weak. Also, underlying medical issues that could complicate matters might not have shown up yet. With the exception of anesthesia risk (since it is rarely used during neonatal, but is administered to some older children) it is medically safe to circ a 3 yo. Also the older the child, the better the painmanagement will be.

However, there is the psycological aspect to be considered. Not just the whole "he won't remember it" vs " he will rember," but more importantly what it does to body image. A new born is still trying to fid his toes, while he experiences pain during his circ, he doesn't know what is going on. 3 yo though has gotten to know his penis. He is proud of his penis, he enjoys his penis. To suddenly alter it say to "you aren't good enough as you are," "you can't control your own body," "we can take away what gives you pleasure," etc, etc.

Toddlerhood has struck me as psychologically speaking the worst period to circ in.

 

[Fyrestorm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlh One reason is that some babies are too sick when born to have it done but probably the biggest reason it is allowed is simply that it is legal.

It's actually not legal...the law is just not enforced.