PDA

View Full Version : 2008-03-31 LA Times - Delicate decision: To circumcise or not?


admin
March 30th, 2008, 15:18
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-circumcision31mar31,1,5610029,full.story

A sample:

^^...Last year, the {AAP} formed a task force to study the matter further in light of the new data. Freedman and Diekema sit on that task force, and say the refreshed guidelines should be out next year. ^^

Here's what the article gives from Freedman:

^^ In the first year of life, 1 in 100 uncircumcised boys will develop a urinary tract infection. Only 1 in 1,000 circumcised boys will. "While that's a tenfold reduction, you have to keep in mind that the risk was only 1% to begin with," says Dr. Andrew Freedman, pediatric urologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Proper hygiene can prevent most infections. ^^

That's almost pro-intact!

Here's what the article gives from Diekema:

^^ Dr. Doug Diekema, pediatrician at Seattle Children's Hospital, where he's chairman of the academic committee on bioethics, says today's climate makes parents think harder about this decision.

"The fact that circumcision is an even split these days is not a bad thing," he says. "If there are not religious beliefs, then parents really are left with the primary question of whether circumcision offers another benefit. The data are not compelling in either direction.

"The social pressure parents faced before to circumcise their sons was not the best reason to do it." ^^

We could have worse people re-writing AAP policy.

-Ron Low
TLCTugger.com

z726
March 30th, 2008, 16:11
Odd, the article has tomorrow's date on it, yet it's online now and I see comments dated back to March 28.

I'm actually a bit surprised that circumcision is still as common as is implied in the article: "…Now, she estimates, out of every six West L.A. couples she teaches, three plan to circumcise; two will not, and one is on the fence." And here I thought southern CA had one of the lowest rates in the country.

The article didn't mention anything about foreskin restoration, but it did come up once in the comments section. Maybe more would be a good thing… guys, you know what to do here. :D

On the LA Times website, this appears as the top article in their Health section. Right below it is a link to the following:

March 31, 2008
Adult circumcision: Culture and appearance play a role (http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-asadults31mar31,1,4507288.story)
By Marnell Jameson
Urologists report more men seeking removal of foreskin, a few wanting it restored.

This article mentions nonsurgical as well as surgical restoration.