[net.kids] circumcisions not paid for by major health insurance

ijk@hropus.UUCP (Ihor J. Kinal) (12/30/85)

A few months ago, in the Scinece section of the NY Times (i.e.,
section C on Tuesdays), there was an article on circumcisions.

Naturally, I don't have it handy, but certain key aspects I remember
well, since my wife decided NOT to have my son circumcised two years
ago:

Here's what I remember:
1.  No medical reasons for circumcision; the bit about cervical
cancer in female partners is not considered to be proven.
Cleaning should not represent any substantial problem.

2.  SURGICAL ACCIDENTS:  the NY Times reported several cases where
the penis was SEVERELY damaged; in one case, a sex change operation
was performed, in another case, the boy will never have normal sexual
relations.  To be sure, the risk may be small, but as a parent,
how can one expose their child to that possibility??????
(Sure, go ahead and sue----- but it's not going to restore the kid's...
Not a happy possibility.)

Ihor Kinal
houxm!hropus!ijk