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His healthy The seven-month-old brother, who also had a non-therapeutic circumcision on the same date, boy narrowly survived [[Bleeding| hemorrhage]] after emergency surgery at [https://www.pch.health.wa.gov.au/ Perth Children's Hospital] and spending the night in intensive care.<ref name="white2021">{{REFnews
The two newly [[circumcised]] boys were discharged to their home in Seville Grove from Gosnells Medical Clinic.
St. John Ambulance service was called to the home for the two boys in the evening. A spokeswoman from [https://stjohn.org.au/ St John Ambulance] confirmed the toddler was in a ‘critical condition’ when emergency workers arrived at the home at about 6:30 pm.<ref>{{REFnews
|url=https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10287861/Toddler-2-dies-baby-brother-fighting-life-botched-circumcisions.html
|title=Likely cause of WA toddler’s death after circumcision revealed
|last=Foster
|first=Ally
|init=A
|website=news.com.au
|date=2021-12-10
|accessdate=2021-12-16
}}</ref><ref>{{REFnews
|url=https://olxpraca.com/a-two-year-old-child-from-seville-grove-in-perth-washington-died-after-a-failed-circumcision/
|title=A two-year-old child from Seville Grove in Perth, Western Australia, died after a failed circumcision
|publisher=Olx Praca
|date=2021-12-09
|accessdate=2021-12-16
}}</ref> The two boys were transported to nearby [https://ahs.health.wa.gov.au/ Armadale Hospital].
→History: Add text and citation.
== Australia and circumcision ==
'''Australia''', like other English-speaking countries, once had a rather high rate of non-therapeutic neonatal [[circumcision]] of male infants, however Australia (2019) now has a very low rate of non-therapeutic neonatal circumcision. Consequently, the [[circumcised]] males are concentrated in the older age groups. As they pass away and are replaced by younger [[intact]] males, the prevalence of [[circumcised ]] men is diminishing. Circumcised males are now in the minority in Australia and have been at least since 2011.<ref name="cozijn2013">{{REFweb
|url=http://www.circinfo.org/statistics.html
|title=Incidence and prevalence of circumcision in Australia
|format=
|quote=
}}</ref> The percentage of [[circumcised]] males in Australia (prevalence) is reported to be 26.6%.<ref>{{REFweb
|url=https://circstatistics.github.io/
|title=Global Circumcision Statistics and Estimates
|last=
|first=
|init=
|publisher=https://circstatistics.github.io
|date=2024-04-01
|accessdate=2024-04-01
}}</ref>
[[Douglas Gairdner]]'s famous, classic 1949 paper, ''The Fate of the Foreskin: A Study of Circumcision'',<ref name="gairdner1949">{{GairdnerDM 1949}}</ref> seems to have had no effect in Australia. However, criticism of the practice of non-therapeutic circumcision accelerated in 1967.
The Melbourne Paediatric Society held a meeting on 12 November 1952 at which Dr. John Begg read a paper, "''Why Circumcise''" in which the practice of child circumcision was questioned.<ref>{{REFjournal
|last=Medical Societies
|init=
|author-link=
|last2=
|init2=
|author2-link=
|url=https://www.cirp.org/news/1953/1953-04-25_medjaust.php
|title=Why Circumcise?
|journal=Med J Aust
|date=1953-04-25
|volume=1
|issue=17
|pages=603-04
|pubmedID=13062881
|accessdate=2024-11-11
}}</ref>
Morgan (1967) criticised non-therapeutic [[circumcision]] in a letter published in the ''Medical Journal of Australia''.<ref>{{REFjournal
|pubmedCID=
|accessdate=2019-10-27
}}</ref>
The [[intact]], foreskinned boy had already become the norm in Australia when Simpson & Baraclough (1998) published advice on the care of intact, [[foreskinned]] boys.<ref name="simpson1998">{{REFjournal
|last=Simpson
|first=Errol T.
|init=ET
|author-link=
|last2=Baraclough
|first2=Phillip
|init2=P
|author2-link=
|etal=no
|title=The management of the paediatric foreskin
|trans-title=
|language=
|journal=Aust Fam Physician
|location=
|date=1998
|volume=27
|issue=5
|pages=381-3
|url=http://www.cirp.org/library/hygiene/simpson1/
|quote=Minor foreskin related complaints are very common in the first few years of life. Most of these can be managed with advice and reassurance, or with medical treatment alone. Circumcision is very rarely indicated in young boys, particularly under the age of 5 years.
|pubmedID=9613002
|pubmedCID=
|DOI=
|accessdate=2023-12-17
}}</ref>
==Position statements of medical societies==
After considering the three papers published in the ''Australian Paediatric Journal'', the [http://auspaediatrics.com.au/ Australian Paediatric Society] adopted a resolution on 24 April 1971 that the circumcision of male infants should not be performed as a routine measure. That resolution subsequently was reported in a letter by Belmaine Bellmaine published in the ''Medical Journal of Australia'' on 22 May 1971.<ref name="belmaine1971bellmaine1971">{{REFjournal |last=BelmaineBellmaine
|init=SP
|title=Circumcision
}}</ref>
The <i>Australian Medical Association</i> (2007) said it would support laws to ban the non-essential [[circumcision]] of infant boys.<ref>{{REFnews |title=Doctors back call for circumcision ban |url=https://www.cirp.org/news/2007/2007-12-09_abc.php |last=Anonymous |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |website= |date=2007-12-09 |accessdate=2024-07-27 |format= |quote=}}</ref> ==Non-therapeutic circumcision and Australian law===== International human rights law ===
Australia is a state-party to the United Nations ''[https://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CCPR.aspx Covenant on Civil and Political Rights]'' (1966) and to the United Nations ''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/crc.aspx Convention on the Rights of the Child]'' (1989), both of which provide various [[human rights]] to children, which are violated by non-therapeutic child circumcision.
=== Australian domestic law ===
The legality of non-therapeutic circumcision of boys has been considered several times.
}}</ref>
[[Gregory J. Boyle | Boyle]] et al. (2000) suggested that non-therapeutic circumcision of boys is "criminal assault." They concluded:
<blockquote>
Enforced non-therapeutic genital cutting of unconsenting minors is overdue for recognition by the legal community as sexual mutilation. As we enter the 21st Century, appropriate legal action must be taken to safeguard the physical [[genital integrity]] of male children.<ref>{{REFjournal |last=Boyle |first=Gregory J. |init=GJ |author-link=Gregory J. Boyle |last2=Svoboda |first2=J. Steven |init2=JS |author2-link=J. Steven Svoboda |last3=Price |first3=Christopher P. |init3=CP |author3-link=Christopher P. Price |last4=Turner |first4=J. Neville |init4=JN |author4-link=J. Neville Turner |etal=no |title=Circumcision of Healthy Boys: Criminal Assault? |journal=J Law Med |date=BoyleGJ SvobodaJS PriceCP TurnerJN 2000-02 |volume=7 |issue= |pages=301-10 |url=http://www.cirp.org/library/legal/boyle1/ |accessdate=2019-10-31}}</ref>
</blockquote>
}}</ref>
Despite the criticism in the above referenced papers, there has been no legislative or judicial action to protect boys in Australia from medically-unnecessary , non-therapeutic [[circumcision]].
== Circumcision in the 21st Century ==
}}</ref>
</blockquote>
The [[RACP]], a [[medical trade association]], retired this [http://www.intactaus.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/RACP-statement.pdf 2010 statement] in December 2022, when it issued a new statement that was ''not'' an improvement.
[[Robert Darby|Darby]] (2011) collected circumcision statistics from the various Australian states and territories. Darby reported a high rate of 17.3 percent in New South Wales in 2010 and a low of 1.5 percent in Tasmania in the same year. Other states fell in between.<ref>{{REFjournal
}}</ref>
Na et al. (2015) considered whether Australian boys should be [[circumcised]]. They concluded:
<blockquote>In conclusion, although there is a benefit of circumcision in those with urogenital tract anomalies, in a healthy newborn,the disease in the foreskin is non-existent. There is insufficient scientific evidence to support routine newborn circumcision in Australia done for UTI risk and [[HIV]] transmission issues alone. Therefore, any surgical complication and financial cost of routine newborn circumcision for these reasons in Australia currently cannot be justified. From a medical point of view, the‘price’ is still too high.<ref name="na2015">{{REFjournal
|accessdate=2020-12-14
}} </ref>
[[Circumcision Law Reform]] (2024) reports that about 22,000 circumcisions are performed in Australia each year, of which 15,000 to 18,000 are performed on minor patients.<ref>{{REFweb
|url=https://circumcisionlawreform.org/about/
|title=CLR
|last=Anonymous
|first=
|init=
|publisher=Circumcision Law Reform
|date=
|accessdate=2024-02-03
}}</ref> The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported 154,281 male births in 2022.<ref>{{REFweb
|url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/births-australia/latest-release
|title=Births, Australia
|last=Anonymous
|first=
|init=
|publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics
|date=2023-10-18
|accessdate=2024-02-03
}}</ref> This provides an estimated incidence of medically-unnecessary, injurious circumcision of 9.7 percent to 11.6 percent.
However, traditional male genital mutilation remains popular among [[Aborigines]] in the Northern Territory where it is supported by the local government.<ref>{{REFnews
=== Circumcision death ===
A Seville Grove, {{AUSC|WA}} Muslim family presented two brothers for elective non-therapeutic circumcision surgery at Gosnells Medical Clinic (A medical clinic populated by Muslims) on 7 December 2021.The healthy two-year-old was circumcised at [http://www.gosnellsmedicalclinic.com.au/ Gosnells Medical Clinic] in Gosnells, {{AUSC|WA}}, on 7 December 2021. His healthy seven-month-old brother also had a non-therapeutic circumcision on the same date. The two circumcisions were performed by family doctor and general practitioner Dr. [[Raad Hassan]]. Opinions about Dr. Hassan are mixed.<ref>{{REFweb |url=https://www.ratemds.com/doctor-ratings/3198480/Dr-Raad-Hassan-Perth-WA.html/ |title=Dr. Raad Hassan |last= |first= |init= |publisher=Rate MDs |date= |accessdate=2024-02-02}}</ref>
The healthy two-year-old boys were discharged to their home after their circumcisions.St. John Ambulance Service was circumcised at called to the home for the two boys in the evening. A spokeswoman from [httphttps://wwwstjohn.gosnellsmedicalclinic.comorg.au/ Gosnells Medical ClinicSt John Ambulance] confirmed the toddler was in Gosnells, a ‘critical condition’ when emergency workers arrived at the home at about 6:30 pm.<ref>{{AUSCREFnews |url=https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10287861/Toddler-2-dies-baby-brother-fighting-life-botched-circumcisions.html |title=Likely cause of WAtoddler’s death after circumcision revealed |last=Foster |first=Ally |init=A |website=news.com.au |date=2021-12-10 |accessdate=2021-12-16}}</ref><ref>{{REFnews |url=https://olxpraca.com/a-two-year-old-child-from-seville-grove-in-perth-washington-died-after-a-failed-circumcision/ |title=A two-year-old child from Seville Grove in Perth, Western Australia, on 7 December died after a failed circumcision |publisher=Olx Praca |date=2021-12-09 |accessdate=2021-12-16}}</ref> The two boys were transported to nearby [https://ahs.health.wa.gov.au/ Armadale Hospital].
|url=https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10287861/Toddler-2-dies-baby-brother-fighting-life-botched-circumcisions.html
|title=Toddler, 2, dies and his baby brother is fighting for life 'after botched circumcisions' as homicide cops are called to investigate
|accessdate=2021-12-08
}}</ref>
The two-year-old toddler died from complications of a non-therapeutic [[circumcision]] operation. He was declared dead-on-arrival at [https://emhs.health.wa.gov.au/Hospitals-and-Services/Hospitals/AHS Armadale Hospital] in the late evening of of 7 December.
His younger brother was transferred to [https://www.pch.health.wa.gov.au/ Perth Children's Hospital] for emergency surgery to stop the hemorrhage.<ref name="white2021"/>
[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-09/boy-dies-after-circumcision-in-perth-southern-suburbs/100687108 The homicide police have referred the death of the two-year-old toddler to the coroner for investigation].<ref name="white2021"/>
=== AMA warns against circumcision ===
[https://www.amawa.com.au/news/mark-duncan-smith-elected-as-new-president-of-ama-wa/ Dr Mark Duncan-Smith], the president of the AMA (WA), issued a warning to parents on 10 December 2021 regarding non-therapeutic child [[circumcision]]. Dr. Duncan-Smith said parents should only "follow through with the procedure if there is a valid medical reason." According to Dr Duncan-Smith only about ten percent of boys in Western Australia are now being [[circumcised]].<ref>{{REFnews
|url=https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10293843/Circumcision-warning-two-year-old-dies-brother-bleeds-Western-Australia.html
|title=Parents are warned against circumcising their children after a toddler, 2, died 'of a reaction to anaesthetic' and his baby brother almost bled out
|accessdate=2021-12-12
}}</ref>
=== RACP issues new circumcision statement ===
The [[RACP]], a [[medical trade association]], issued a new 18-page promotional policy statement, entitled ''Circumcision of infant males'', in December 2022.<ref name="RACP2022">{{REFdocument
|url=https://www.racp.edu.au//docs/default-source/advocacy-library/racp-circumcision-of-infant-males-position-statement.pdf
|title=Circumcision of Infant Males
|date=2022-12
|last=RACP
|format=PDF
|accessdate=2023-11-17
}}</ref>
The statement failed to mention the circumcision [[death]] in Perth, nor did it mention the advice of Dr. Mark Duncan Smith, then President of the [https://www.ama.com.au/ Australian Medical Association] that infant [[circumcision]] should be done only when a medical indication is present.<ref>{{REFnews
|url=https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10293843/Circumcision-warning-two-year-old-dies-brother-bleeds-Western-Australia.html
|title=Parents are warned against circumcising their children after a toddler, 2, died 'of a reaction to anaesthetic' and his baby brother almost bled out
|last=Wondracz
|first=Aidan
|init=A
|publisher=Daily Mail
|date=2021-12-09
|accessdate=2023-11-20
}}</ref>
=== Doctor-mohel amputates the penis of two boys ===
Jewish doctor & ''[[mohel]]'' [[Hershel Goldman]] has amputated the [[penis]] from two boys while performing a [[Brit Milah]] in Victoria. The [https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/ Medical Board of Australia] (2024) has now banned him from performing [[circumcision]].<ref>{{REFnews
|title=Top circumcision doctor is banned from performing the operations after amputating two little boys' penises, tribunal hears
|url=https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13455661/Circumcision-doctor-Hershel-Goldman-fighting-ban.html
|last=Lackey
|first=Brett
|init=
|author-link=
|last2=
|init2=
|author2-link=
|publisher=Daily Mail
|website=
|date=2024-05-24
|accessdate=2024-05-25
|format=
|quote=
}}</ref>
== The current situation in Australia ==
The [https://auspaediatrics.org.au/ Australian Pædiatric Association] resolved in 1971 "that newborn male infants should not, as a routine, be circumcised." This decision was announced in a letter published in the ''Medical Journal of Australia''.<ref name="bellmaine1971" /> The Australian Pædiatric Association published a second explanatory letter in July 1971.<ref>{{REFjournal
|last=Hall
|first=
|init=G
|author-link=
|last2=Bellmaine
|first2=
|init2=SP
|author2-link=
|etal=no
|title=Circumcision
|trans-title=
|language=
|journal=Med J Aust
|location=
|date=1971-07-24
|volume=2
|issue=4
|article=
|page=223
|pages=
|url=https://www.cirp.org/library/statements/apa1971/
|archived=
|quote=
|pubmedID=5093878
|pubmedCID=
|accessdate=2023-11-18
}}</ref> As stated above, the incidence of non-therapeutic [[circumcision]] of boys declined precipitously after the publication of these letters, so most men under forty-nine are [[intact]]. These [[foreskinned]] men are now becoming fathers. They are aware of the value and functions<ref name="helard2014">{{REFweb
|url=http://www.intactaus.org/information/functionsoftheforeskin/
|title=Functions of the Foreskin
|last=Helard
|first=Lou
|author-link=
|publisher=Intact Australia
|website=
|date=2014-08-01
|accessdate=2020-05-29
|format=
|quote=
}}</ref> of the [[foreskin]], so these [[intact]] fathers usually do not want any son to be [[circumcised]]. Moreover, public hospitals in Australia do not permit the performance of non-therapeutic [[circumcision]].<ref name="tanny2015">{{REFjournal
|last=Na
|first=
|init=AF
|author-link=
|last2=Tanny
|first2=
|init2=SPT
|author2-link=
|last3=Hutson
|first3=
|init3=JM
|author3-link=
|etal=no
|title=Circumcision: Is it worth it for 21st-century Australian boys?
|language=
|journal= J Paediatr Child Health
|location=
|date=2015-06
|volume=51
|issue=6
|article=
|page=
|pages=580-3
|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jpc.12825
|archived=
|quote=Most Australian states withdrew circumcision from the range of free services provided in public hospitals through Medicare funding system.
|pubmedID=25683279
|pubmedCID=
|DOI=10.1111/jpc.12825
|accessdate=2024-09-16
}}</ref>
As a consequence, it appears that the efforts of the [[RACP]] to revitalize the [[circumcision industry]] in Australia<ref name="RACP2022" /> may have scant success. The incidence of non-therapeutic [[circumcision]] of boys recently has been variously reported to be 4-10 percent.
[[Foreskinned]] men are in a strong and ever-increasing majority in Australia.
==Parental information==
Raisingchildren.net.au provides excellent information on the care of [[intact]], [[foreskinned]] boys.<ref>{{REFweb
|url=https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/a-z-health-reference/foreskin
|title=Foreskins and foreskin care
|last=Anonymous
|first=
|init=
|author-link=
|publisher=
|date=2021-12-21
|accessdate=2024-09-02
}}</ref>
== Video ==
Circumcision in modern Australia with [[John_Adkison]]
{{LINKS}}
* {{URLwikipedia|Australia|Australia}}
* {{REFnews
|title=Victoria stops circumcision in public hospitals
|url=https://www.cirp.org/news/2007/2007-08-12_herald-sun.php
|last=Hinde
|first=Suellen
|init=
|author-link=
|last2=Healey
|init2=Kelvin
|author2-link=
|publisher=Sunday Herald-Sun
|website=
|date=2007-08-12
|accessdate=2024-07-28
|quote=State Government has ordered the ban, which starts next month, following medical advice that circumcision of baby boys was unnecessary.
}}
* {{REFnews
|title=South Australia Bans Non-therapeutic Male Circumcision
|url=https://www.cirp.org/news/2007/2007-11-12_theadvertiser.php
|last=Pengelley
|first=Jill
|init=
|author-link=
|publisher=Adelaide Advertiser
|website=
|date=2007-11-12
|accessdate=2024-07-28
|quote=In the past financial year, 274 circumcisions were performed on children in the state's public hospitals. SA is the last state to take a stand against circumcision. "Both nationally and overseas, doctors agree there is no medical benefit to routine circumcision with the procedure as low as 2 per cent in the UK," Mr Hill said.
}}
* {{REFweb
|url=https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/childrens-rights
|title=Children's Rights
|last=Anonymous
|first=
|init=
|publisher=Australian Human Rights Commission
|date=2023-10-27
|accessdate=2024-02-06
}}
* {{REFweb
|url=https://www.cirp.org/library/legal/Australia/