Judge rules no circumcision for 9-year-old

Post by **Roofus** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 8:09 pm

A judge in a case closely watched by those who oppose circumcision sided Tuesday with a divorced man who did not want his 9-year-old son to undergo the procedure.

Circuit Judge Jordan Kaplan said that circumcision is ?an extraordinary medical procedure? for a 9-year-old and that the boy can decide for himself when he turns 18.

The boy?s father sued to block the operation in a dispute with his ex-wife. The couple?s 2003 divorce decree gave the father the right to be consulted before the boy underwent any ?extraordinary? non-emergency procedure.

The father said he believed surgical removal of the boy?s foreskin could cause long-term physical and psychological harm. The child?s mother wanted the procedure to prevent recurring infections. She testified that the boy had suffered five bouts of painful inflammation and had begged her to help him.

Newborns in several mainstream religions are routinely circumcised as part of their faith, but religious beliefs did not figure in the ruling.

The Associated Press is not identifying the parents to protect the boy?s privacy.

Alan Toback, the father?s attorney, said the man is extremely happy with the judge?s decision. A telephone call to the mother?s attorney was not immediately returned.

Most U.S. newborn boys are circumcised. But a growing number of parents are opting against the surgery. The percentage of male babies circumcised has fallen from an estimated 90 percent in 1970 to about 60 percent today.

In a 1999 policy statement that was reaffirmed this year, the American Academy of Pediatrics said there are ?potential medical benefits? to circumcision, including a reduction in risk of urinary tract infections. But the academy said there is not enough evidence to recommend routine circumcision of newborns.

Link

APE · Post by **APE** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 8:38 pm

I'm sure the kid is going to be happy with a painful dick for a week or 2. Have a doctor convince both parents then do it, otherwise there is no point.

Post by **Roofus** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 8:50 pm

I'm sure the kid is going to be happy with a painful dick for a week or 2

Having surgery for any condition that will clear up in a week or two is stupid.

Dark Schneider · Post by **Dark Schneider** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 6:49 am

I'm sure the kid is going to be happy with a painful dick for a week or 2. Have a doctor convince both parents then do it, otherwise there is no point.

Having surgery for any condition that will clear up in a week or two is stupid.

I think we all know who is circumscized and who isn't in this discussion

Strapping Scherzo · Post by **Strapping Scherzo** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 8:56 am

I'm circumcised and couldn't imagine not being circumcised. What I've seen of uncircumcised penises seems strange and alien to me. On the other hand, it's also strange to think that when I was just a baby someone cut up my dick for it to be the way it is today. It's almost like I have a belief somewhere deep in my psyche that my penis is how all penises should be, and that uncircumcised penises are freaks. I know that's not true and I'm actually the freak, but having lived with my penis all my life, it's hard to imagine it any other way. I love my Mr. Happy!!!

Lartrak · Post by **Lartrak** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:23 pm

Strapping Scherzo wrote:I'm circumcised and couldn't imagine not being circumcised. What I've seen of uncircumcised penises seems strange and alien to me. On the other hand, it's also strange to think that when I was just a baby someone cut up my dick for it to be the way it is today. It's almost like I have a belief somewhere deep in my psyche that my penis is how all penises should be, and that uncircumcised penises are freaks. I know that's not true and I'm actually the freak, but having lived with my penis all my life, it's hard to imagine it any other way. I love my Mr. Happy!!!

What you haven't seen is alien and somehow worse to you. Basic human nature, unfortunately.

Post by **|darc|** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:38 pm

Strapping Scherzo wrote:I'm circumcised and couldn't imagine not being circumcised. What I've seen of uncircumcised penises seems strange and alien to me. On the other hand, it's also strange to think that when I was just a baby someone cut up my dick for it to be the way it is today. It's almost like I have a belief somewhere deep in my psyche that my penis is how all penises should be, and that uncircumcised penises are freaks. I know that's not true and I'm actually the freak, but having lived with my penis all my life, it's hard to imagine it any other way. I love my Mr. Happy!!!

Could be Mr. Happier. Oh well, the doctor lopped it off.

APE · Post by **APE** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:39 pm

Dark Schneider wrote:
I'm sure the kid is going to be happy with a painful dick for a week or 2. Have a doctor convince both parents then do it, otherwise there is no point.

Having surgery for any condition that will clear up in a week or two is stupid.

I think we all know who is circumscized and who isn't in this discussion

I'm not sure how you derive the conclusion from the arguement but I'm relatively certain you guessed wrong. In my anthropology class we were going over the concept of gender. This one boy went in as an infant for a circumcision and the doctor used a heat based method instead of a traditional knife. Low and behold the kid lost his johnson and spent the next 14 years being told he was a she. He recently had surgery to give him something to work with but I'm sure it's not the same.

Hawq · Post by **Hawq** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 1:44 pm

Roofus wrote:
I'm sure the kid is going to be happy with a painful dick for a week or 2
Having surgery for any condition that will clear up in a week or two is stupid.

The child?s mother wanted the procedure to prevent recurring infections. She testified that the boy had suffered five bouts of painful inflammation and had begged her to help him.

Does anyone else see the logic behind this, someone didnt read the post fully.

Post by **Roofus** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 1:51 pm

Hawq wrote:
Roofus wrote:
I'm sure the kid is going to be happy with a painful dick for a week or 2
Having surgery for any condition that will clear up in a week or two is stupid.
The child?s mother wanted the procedure to prevent recurring infections. She testified that the boy had suffered five bouts of painful inflammation and had begged her to help him.
Does anyone else see the logic behind this, someone didnt read the post fully.

I did miss that part

, but the point still stands. Just replace "will clear up in a week or two." with "can be prevented entirely with a basic hygiene lesson."

Hawq · Post by **Hawq** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 2:06 pm

But that would mean taking some responsibility, in todays world thats unheard of.