The circumcision of boys is reportedly almost always unnecessary and medically risky. The Royal Dutch Medical Society (KNMG) has published recommendations advising doctors to discourage parents from having their sons circumcised. Jewish and Islamic organisations have reacted angrily.
The KNMG would really like to ban the circumcision of boys altogether, but the organisation feels a legal ban would only lead to circumcision going underground, increasing the risks.
Dialogue
More than 46,000 Dutch doctors and trainee doctors are members of the society. They call circumcision for non-medical reasons “an infringement of a child’s right to autonomy and the right to bodily integrity”. And they say there are unnecessary risks.
However, the doctors are willing to take the cultural and religious sensitivities of parents into account. Which is why doctors, parents and religious groups plan to engage in a dialogue. And yet, Rasit Bal, chairman of the interest group Muslims and Government, was unpleasantly surprised by the advice of the medical community:
“I have noticed that it is becoming increasingly difficult to publicly display one’s religious identity. Things like this make it difficult. This is one of those issues that make life difficult for people who practice a religion”
Medical benefits
About 10,00 to 15,000 circumcisions are performed each year, most of them on Jewish and Muslim boys. Rabbi Raphael Evers says this figure includes about 80 Jewish boys. He argues peer pressure does not play a role in the decision to have one’s son circumcised. The rabbi says it’s the wish of the parents. He brushes aside any medical risks and even claims the surgery brings health benefits.
“Agitation against circumcision as a perceived threat against public health has been going on for quite some time, and it’s just nonsense. I have personally made extensive inquiries into both the physical and psychological problems of circumcision but never heard about any.”
Genital mutilation
The growing number of circumcisions among boys has not led to any kind of serious discussion in the Netherlands, in marked contrast with the circumcision of the daughters of African immigrants. The excision of girls’ labia minora and/or clitoris is almost universally condemned as genital mutilation.
So now the doctors have set their sights on the circumcision of boys. Medical ethicist Gert van Dijck says doctors will invoke children’s rights to emphatically discourage parents from requesting the procedure.
“We are asking doctors to actively and urgently warn parents that there are no medical advantages to circumcision and that there is a risk of complications. This way, we are hoping to achieve a culture change via the parents, so that they will eventually stop doing it.”
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"Coming from a European background where routine circumcisions...are nonexistent, and where many Jews reject a brit milla as an archaic and barbaric ritual... This author grew up in France in a traditional Jewish family. Not a single male of her generation or her children's generation within her large family (or in her circle of Jewish friends) was ever circumcised." - Nelly Karsenty, Humanistic Judaism - Summer, 1988
"The myth is that all Jews circumcise. But in Europe, South America and Israel, as well as here, there are Jews who do not circumcise their sons." - Dr. Ronald Goldman, Baltimore Jewish Times
"Goldman pointed out that Jewish circumcision is not universal, as some Jews in South America and Europe do not perform it. Some contend that the commandment to circumcise is at odds with the Torah's prohibition against marking or altering the human body, and against causing pain to any living creature."
Circumcision is a tatoo. Practiced by the tribe the Israelites , just as other tribes tatto themselves to enhance a sense of ingroup indentity. No more no less! can any muslims tell me where it states in the Koran that boys must be circumcised?
Doctors can make any recommendations they wish. However, Europeans should not coerce non Christians who peform this ancient and important religious and cultural rite. The purpose of circumcision in Judaism is not to enhance health. It symbolizes commitment to religious laws and as a covenant with God. Jews did not abandon this practice even knowing that it was used to identify them during the slaughter of WW 2. Gentiles participated in using it for that purpose. Now European "science" is the protector of young boys and prohibitor of circumcision. Too bad the citizens of Europe and their doctors weren't as concientious in protecting Jewish lives.
Circumcision of boys is clearly unethical and I am glad the Netherlands is finally starting to take a stand for the basic rights of boys to intact genitals and to not be subject to genital mutilation. The fact is, that since circumcision is cutting off healthy body parts, it has no medical benefit, and is actually damaging the boy and causing an injury. The idea that we should cut off healthy body parts out of fears of diseases the child does not have is outrageous. What next? Cutting off girls breasts to prevent breast cancer? Cut their ears off to prevent ear diseases, cut their arms off to prevent arm diseases? Cutting off body parts is clearly something that can only be indicated by a severe, current and present medical condition, and certainly should never be used to destroy medically normal body parts of minor children, such would violate medical ethics and the Hippocratic Oath. IF we were to allow cutting off of body parts because of fears of a disease the child does not have, we could find a reason to cut off any part of their body, because any body part may become diseased. The penis is actually relatively disease resistant and conditions affecting it are particularly rare, i find it extremely unusual then that the most pleasure sensitive part of the boys body is the only body part routinely removed from their bodies, which speaks of the true sexual-suppression agenda of circumcision. Basic universality of human rights to intact genitals requires that boys be given the right to intact genitals.
Circumcision in males reduces the rate of HIV infection. Nature isn't perfect you know. We are products of evolution.
"The KNMG would really like to ban the circumcision of boys altogether, but the organisation feels a legal ban would only lead to circumcision going underground, increasing the risks. "
I note this reason didn't stop female circumcision being banned. Although I do welcome the dutch doctors' statement, there is still a little cultural and sexist bias there.
Anonymous.
So cutting part of your own penis as the individual choice of a person about his own body is according to you COMPLETE CONFORMITY and TYPICAL OF DUTCH SOCIETY.
On the other hand people cutting part of the body of another individual who hasn't asked for it or given permission because of what these other people believe is a PERSONAL AFFAIR.
Human rights hahaha...
JANdeWIT.
See also here:
DRASTIES - Dutch on the world. World on the Dutch
I really do not understand that why human beings doubt their Creator and tamper with their bodies. Human/animal/plant bodies are perfectly made and each organ has its protective covering, which should not be tampered with.
@Anonymous: this is not about the State. This is a doctors' organisation issuing a policy about medical ethics. What you are talking about is not medicine. Talking about conformity, what could be more conformist than to cut part off someone's genitals before they are old enough to object? (And as for the family, as one angry circumcised man said - but in more colourful language - "My family doesn't [urinate] with my [penis], they don't [masturbate] with my [penis] and they don't [have sexual intercourse] with my [penis], so what right did they have to cut part off of my [penis]?")
The decision to circumcise should come from the individual who is to be circumcised. Parents should not have the right to decide to what amounts to genital mutilation in their infant or minor boy. If an adult decides to be circumcised for religious resons, then they should go ahead with the procedure. Circumcision is what amounts to a cosmetic procedure. No matter how young an individual is, they have ultimate control and say over what happens to their body.
This is unnecessary interference in personal and cultural affairs. This is the height of demands for complete conformity which, unfortunately, is typical of Dutch society. In the case of circumcision, it is the responsibility of the family and no one else to make the decision. In the case of the burka and the hejab it is the responsibility of the woman herself. It is a strong violation of human rights for the State - or anyone else - to get involved in these affairs.
The Dutch doctors are to be commended for supporting the bodily integrity rights of all children, including boys. I was circumcised at birth and I do not like being circumcised. I have had problems, particularly as I age. I dislike my circumcision so much that I am restoring my foreskin. I am amazed at how much better everything feels with a foreskin.
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