Circumcision legal commentary

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Circumcision legal commentary has been published for about the last fifty years in several nations by different authors who have a variety of views. The intent of this page is to collect such circumcision legal commentary in the English language as can be found online and link to it. Material will be arranged in approximate chronological order of publication.

T. L. Fisher (1966), an officer of the Canadian Medical Protective Association, discussed the legal dangers of using outmoded treatment. This is, of course, relevant to the outmoded practice of circumcision of male children.

• Fisher, TL. Outmoded Treatment. Can Med Assoc J. 17 September 1966; 95(12): 630. PMID. PMC. Retrieved 8 May 2020.

Morse (1968) discussed ritual circumcision in hospitals under the law of New York.

• Morse, HW. Ritual Circumcision. JAMA. 1968; 203(12): 257-8. Retrieved 8 May 2020.

Roddey (1971) discussed legal issues that can arise from the performance of then very common infant non-therapeutic circumcision.

• Roddey, AR. Law & Medicine: Circumcision. JAMA. 4 October 1971; 218(1): 149-50. Retrieved 8 May 2020.

Canadian medical ethicist Margaret Somerville (1980) published a commentary on the distinctions between therapeutic medical procedures and non-therapeutic medical procedures. Since the circumcision of male infants is a non-therapeutic procedure, her remarks are relevant here.

• Somerville, Margaret. Medical Interventions and the Criminal Law. McGill Law Journal. 1980; 26(82): 82-96. Retrieved 8 May 2020.

American William E. Brigman (1985) used new medical evidence to argue that circumcision is child abuse, and discussed possible legal remedies. Recent medical articles have documented the actual injury of circumcision, to make it possible for an attorney to win damages for wrongful circumcision, he said. Brigman suggested civil rights class action suits against hospitals.

• Brigman, William E.. Circumcision as Child Abuse: The Legal and Constitutional Issues. J Fam Law. 1985; 23(3): 337. Retrieved 8 May 2020.

Sebastian Poulter (1986) argues that parents may authorise the non-therapeutic circumcision of a male minor under English law. Later British court decisions call his comments into question.

• Poulter, Sebastian (1986): English Criminal Law and Ethnic Minority Customs. ISBN 00113259765. Retrieved 8 May 2020.

Bonner & Kinane (1989) discuss the legal and constitutional issues of non-therapeutic male circumcision under United States and California law.

• Bonner, Charles, Kinane, Michael. The Legal and Constitutional Issues. The Truth Seeker. July 1989; Retrieved 8 May 2020.

Lynn E. Lebit (1992) discusses issues with the substituted judgment doctrine.

• Lebit, Lynn E.. Compelled Medical Procedures Involving Minors and Incompetents and Misapplication of the Substituted Judgment Doctrine. Journal of Law and Medicine. 1992; 7: 107. PMID. Retrieved 8 May 2020.

The Queensland Law Reform Commission (QLRC) (1993) considered possible reforms to the law of state of Queensland, Australia, however no action has been taken after nearly 30 years.

• Circumcision of Male Infants Research Paper, Queensland Law Reform Commission. (1993). Retrieved 8 May 2020.

James G. Dwyer (1994) discussed the impact of parents' religion on children's welfare.

• Dwyer, James G.. Parents' Religion and Children's Welfare: Debunking the Doctrine of Parents' Rights. California L. Rev.. December 1994; 82(6): 1371. Retrieved 8 May 2020.