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|Text=As an American physician, I am extremely disappointed in these recommendations. My most important job as a physician is to protect the health and well-being of my community. [[Circumcision]] is a [[Circumcision risks|dangerous]], detrimental procedure that must end in our country, just as it has been shunned by other medically-advanced countries.
This statement considers the very modest [[Arguments pro circumcision|potential medical benefit]], while ignoring other important considerations. First of all, condoms and other safe sex practices will always be more effective and important than [[circumcision]] for prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and our efforts should be focused accordingly. To give one a false sense of security that [[circumcision ]] fully prevents [[Circumcision and HIV|STIs/HIV]] would be a true disservice. We must also carefully interpret data regarding the [[circumcision ]] for the prevention of any STI, as many studies have failed to show this correlation (PubMedID: 23710368<ref>{{REFjournal
|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23710368/
|title=Sexually transmitted infections and male circumcision: a systematic review and meta-analysis
}}</ref>, 22320006<ref>{{BoyleGJ HillG 2011}}</ref>).
[[Circumcision]] is undeniably [[pain]]ful, to the degree that it appears to influence [[pain ]] perception in the long-term (PMID: 15495086<ref>{{REFjournal
|title=Pain relief for neonatal circumcision
|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15495086/
|DOI=10.1002/14651858.CD004217.pub2
|accessdate=2021-09-26
}}</ref>, 9057731<ref>{{TaddioA KatzJ IlersichAL KorenG 1997}}</ref>). [[Complication]]s from [[circumcision ]] range from mild to fatal. I personally have seen several boys have problems with major [[bleeding]] after circumcision, and know of others that have had problems with [[infection]], [[Circumcision scar| scarring]], and additional damage to the penis. Other complications such as [[meatal stenosis]] are under-recognized (PMID: 20851685<ref>{{REFjournal
|journal=J Pediatr Urol
|date=2011-10
|DOI=10.1016/j.jpurol.2010.08.005
|accessdate=2021-09-26
}}</ref>). [[Circumcision ]] also has [[Sexual effects of circumcision|long-term negative sexual effects]] on both male and female partners, which must be acknowledged (PMID: 21672947<ref>{{FrischM LindholmM GroenbaekM 2011}}</ref>, 10349418<ref>{{REFjournal
|journal=BJU Int
|date=1999-01
}}</ref>). These complications have important physical, emotional, and financial costs and should not be trivialized. Unfortunately, a comprehensive discussion of these [[Risks and complications|risks]] is not typically included during the [[informed consent]] process.
Finally, I am appalled that a reputable medical organization would condone the [[Routine Infant Circumcision|forced alteration of a child's genitals]], especially since girls have been appropriately been legally protected from this for many years now. Deciding how one's genitals appear and function is one of the most intimate decisions possible. I know literally hundreds of men who resent being [[circumcised]], many of which are plagued by [[Psychological issues of male circumcision|chronic problems from their circumcision]]. The only person to choose [[circumcision ]] or any other cosmetic procedure should be the owner of that body. Physicians have no business performing [[pain| painful]], unnecessary procedures on non-consenting patients.
|Author=[[The Activist MD]]
|Source=Facebook
[[Category:Campaign]]
[[Circumcision debate]]
[[Category:Physician]]
[[Category:USA]]