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Obstetricians and the American circumcision scandal: Difference between revisions

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The [[American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists]] (ACOG) is a [[medical trade association]] that provides a statement on its website to encourage parents to consent to harmful, injurious [[circumcision of the newborn]]. Obstetricians have long been a major factor in the promotion and performance of [[circumcision of the newborn]].
The [[American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists]] (ACOG) is a [[medical trade association]] that provides a statement on its website to encourage parents to consent to harmful, injurious [[circumcision of the newborn]]. Obstetricians have long been a major factor in the promotion and performance of [[circumcision of the newborn]].


Metcalf et al. (1985) reported that obstetricians carried out 87.7 percent of the circumcisions at the two hospitals surveyed in Utah.<ref>{{REFjournal
Metcalf et al. (1983) reported that obstetricians carried out 87.7 percent of the circumcisions at the two hospitals surveyed in Utah.<ref>{{REFjournal
  |last=Metcaalf
  |last=Metcalf
  |first=
  |first=
  |init=TJ
  |init=TJ
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Obstetricians, to get their [[Financial incentive| surgical fee]], must provide a [[circumcision]] within hours of birth, because otherwise, the attending pediatrician will get the fee, if a circumcision is performed later.
Obstetricians, to get their [[Financial incentive| surgical fee]], must provide a [[circumcision]] within hours of birth, because otherwise, the attending pediatrician will get the fee, if a circumcision is performed later.
It is clear that much of the blame for America's ongoing circumcision scandal must be laid at the feet of America's obstetricians.
===ACOG information for parents===
===ACOG information for parents===
The infamous 2012 statement for parents appears to have been removed in 2017 at the time that the 2012 [[American Academy of Pediatrics]] Circumcision Policy Statement, on which the previous ACOG statement was based, expired without being re-affirmed.  
The infamous 2012 statement for parents appears to have been removed in 2017 at the time that the 2012 [[American Academy of Pediatrics]] Circumcision Policy Statement, on which the previous ACOG statement was based, expired without being re-affirmed.  


It was replaced in 2017 by another statement on [[circumcision of the newborn]] that shows signs of concerns about the possible legal liability of ACOG. The statement attempts to remove the responsibility and liability for any [[circumcision]] from the surgeon to the parent who granted [[surrogate consent]]. Some of the claims that advocate circumcision have been omitted.<ref name="acog2017">{{REFweb
It was replaced in 2017 by another statement on [[circumcision of the newborn]] that shows signs of concerns about the possible legal liability of ACOG. The statement attempts to remove the responsibility and liability for any [[circumcision]] from the surgeon to the parent who granted [[surrogate consent]]. Some of the previous claims that advocate circumcision have been omitted.<ref name="acog2017">{{REFweb
  |url=https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/newborn-male-circumcision
  |url=https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/newborn-male-circumcision
  |title=Newborn Male Circumcision
  |title=Newborn Male Circumcision
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}}</ref>
}}</ref>


The statement fails to advise parents that there are ''no'' medical indications for circumcision in the newborn period, that circumcision does not prevent or treat disease because no disease is present. It does advise parents of surgical risk, but fails to mention [[complete penile amputation]] or [[death]] as a possible outcome.
The statement fails to advise parents that there are ''no'' medical indications for circumcision in the newborn period, that circumcision does not prevent or treat disease because no disease is present. It does advise parents of surgical risk, but fails to mention [[complete penile amputation]] or [[death]] as a possible outcome.<ref name="acog2017" />


There is a claim that circumcision may reduce the risk of urinary tract infection ([[UTI]]), but it fails to tell parents that the treatment for UTI is with anti-microbial drugs, not surgery.<ref>{{REFjournal
There is a claim that circumcision may reduce the risk of urinary tract infection ([[UTI]]),<ref name="acog2017" /> but it fails to tell parents that the treatment for UTI is with anti-microbial drugs, not surgery.<ref>{{REFjournal
  |last=McCracken, Jr.
  |last=McCracken, Jr.
  |first=
  |first=
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}}</ref> The ACOG statement also fails to inform parents of the [[Immunological and protective function of the foreskin| immunological functions]] of the foreskin, the value of [[breastfeeding]] in reducing [[UTI]], or the increased difficulty of initating breastfeeding after [[circumcision]].
}}</ref> The ACOG statement also fails to inform parents of the [[Immunological and protective function of the foreskin| immunological functions]] of the foreskin, the value of [[breastfeeding]] in reducing [[UTI]], or the increased difficulty of initating breastfeeding after [[circumcision]].


ACOG now uses the device of saying "why parents choose" to reduce their potential liability. This statement cites the [[AAP]], however, the AAP's last statement expired in August 2017. The AAP now has no identifiable official position on [[circumcision of the newborn]].  
ACOG now uses the device of saying "why parents choose" to reduce ACOG's potential liability.<ref name="acog2017" /> This statement cites the [[AAP]], however, the AAP's last statement expired in August 2017. The AAP now has no identifiable official position on [[circumcision of the newborn]]!<ref>{{REFweb
|url=https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/prenatal/decisions-to-make/Pages/Circumcision.aspx
|title=Circumcision: A Parent's Choice
|last=Anonymous
|first=
|init=
|author-link=
|publisher=Healthy Children
|date=2025-02-03
|accessdate=2025-07-10
}}</ref>


AGOG provides no information on the various [[Foreskin#Physiological_functions| functions of the foreskin]], which are now well known.<ref name="alissa2025-07-03">{{REFweb
AGOG provides no information, which may dissuade parents from choosing [[circumcision]], on the various [[Foreskin#Physiological_functions| functions of the foreskin]],<ref name="acog2017" /> which are now well known to medical science.<ref name="cold-taylor1999">{{ColdCJ TaylorJR 1999}}</ref> <ref name="alissa2025-07-03">{{REFweb
  |url=https://intactamerica.org/foreskin-functions-you-were-never-told/
  |url=https://intactamerica.org/foreskin-functions-you-were-never-told/
  |title=The Penis You Were Supposed to Have: 10 Functions of the Foreskin You Were Never Taught
  |title=The Penis You Were Supposed to Have: 10 Functions of the Foreskin You Were Never Taught
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  |accessdate=2025-07-07
  |accessdate=2025-07-07
}}</ref>
}}</ref>
In conclusion, the ACOG statement for parents displays considerable [[bias]] in favor of [[circumcision]] and the obstetrician receiving a very [[Financial incentive| substantial fee]] for the harmful [[amputation]] of a [[foreskin]] that takes only a few minutes.


==Statement by George C. Denniston, M.D., M.P.H.==
==Statement by George C. Denniston, M.D., M.P.H.==
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  |year=2025
  |year=2025
  |title=Never a Dull Moment: The Life of an Activist Physician
  |title=Never a Dull Moment: The Life of an Activist Physician
  |url=
  |url=https://www.amazon.com/Never-Dull-Moment-Activist-Physician/dp/B0FCSMYJ12/ref=sr_1_1?crid=NCAEK9R68S0N&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YJfHd1idnH-cx0rIY5bJIQ.V8f86AHVO4v5Ch6Z4-NwHWY19rBGRW3C_mfb_WvhCgg&dib_tag=se&keywords=Never+a+Dull+Moment%3A+The+Life+of+an+Activist+Physician&qid=1751975578&s=books&sprefix=never+a+dull+moment+the+life+of+an+activist+physician%2Cstripbooks%2C84&sr=1-1
|work=
|editor=
|edition=
|volume=
|chapter=
|scope=
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  |pages=39-40
  |pages=39-40
  |location=Van Nuys
  |location=Van Nuys
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==Human rights and medical ethics issues==
==Human rights and medical ethics issues==
Baby boys have rights under both international [[human rights]] law and domestic law from the instant they are born alive. [[Medical ethics]] requires medical doctors to respect those rights.
Baby boys have rights under both international [[human rights]] law and domestic law<ref>[https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=12998230422916570030&q=Union+Pacific+Railway+Company+v.+Botsford,+141+U.S.+250+(1891)&hl=en&as_sdt=8000003 Union Pacific R. Co. v. Botsford], 141 US 250 - Supreme Court 1891.</ref> from the instant they are born alive. [[Medical ethics]] requires medical doctors to respect those rights.


* The ACOG practice of having a parent provide [[surrogate consent]] for a medically-unnecessary genital mutilation violates the boy's right to ''autonomy''.
* The ACOG practice of having a parent provide [[surrogate consent]] for a medically-unnecessary genital mutilation violates the boy's right to ''autonomy''.
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* The practice of non-therapeutic [[circumcision of the newborn]] is done solely to allow the obstetrician to collect a fee, so it is ''patient exploitation''.
* The practice of non-therapeutic [[circumcision of the newborn]] is done solely to allow the obstetrician to collect a fee, so it is ''patient exploitation''.
{{SEEALSO}}
{{SEEALSO}}
* [[American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists]]
* [[Ethics of non-therapeutic child circumcision]]
* [[Ethics of non-therapeutic child circumcision]]
* [[Protection of intact newborns in hospital]]
* [[Protection of intact newborns in hospital]]
* [[United States of America]]
* [[Wrongful circumcision]]
{{LINKS}}
{{LINKS}}
* {{REFweb
* {{REFweb
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[[Category:Intactivism]]
[[Category:Intactivism]]
[[Category:Obstetrician]]
[[Category:Obstetrician]]
[[Category:Parental information]]
[[Category:Physicians]]
[[Category:Promoter]]
[[Category:Promoter]]
[[Category:Scandal]]


[[Category:USA]]
[[Category:USA]]
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