10/22/98

Some comments have been made about consent of the infant regarding elective circumcision. Obviously it is the parents who decide. I would question how informed they are when making this choice. During birthing classes, parents should be shown video footage of actual circumcisions with full sound. A few examples of poor cosmesis would also be useful. Mothers have consented based on "I want him to look like his Dad" as their only reason. Would we do a nose job on a child so he can bear more likeness to a parent? The medical indications for circumcision are clear, and routine circumcision of normal boys is taking unwarranted risk for probably no benefit. It is time that insurance companies stopped paying for what is cosmesis in the minds of the parents, and pay for only those medically indicated procedures.

Judith Taylor, MD

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