Parents face so many difficult decisions when it comes to having a child: decisions about nursing, sleep patterns, discipline, teaching methods and, in the case of boys, whether or not to circumcise. In addition to being the most common surgery for males in the U.S., circumcision has been practiced in various cultures for centuries. Yet when it comes to the health and best interest of your newborn, is circumcision the way to go?
Clinical Professor of Pediatrics
NOCIRC seems to be unaware that local anesthesia is now the standard of care for newborn circumcision, as well as for older ages. It relieves pain just as for other procedures- dental work, skin surgery, etc. Ten or twenty years ago infants were usually circumcised without anesthesia just as was the case for other minor procedures in infants; this should be considered ancient history. But even in those times, though the procedure was painful, there was no evidence of permanent effect. Infants and children are very resilient. As for long term psychological damage there is no evidence that European men, who are uncircumcised, have fewer emotional difficulties than do the 120 million American males who are.
Next Argument
9
6
6
6
5
5
13
8
8
9
11
2
1
2
7
4
4
3
5
4
Biweekly updates on new debates and experts
Please check your email to confirm your subscription.
© 2008 Opposing Views, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Opposing Views, Inc. is not responsible for the content posted on this website. Please view full disclaimer under Terms
Expert Verified
