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Bias
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== Religious bias ==
[[Image:Religious syms.png|right|thumb|]]
Cultural or religious importance to circumcision may pre-dispose one to view the practice of circumcision in a positive light, to welcome evidence that it is medically beneficial, perhaps even necessary or required, and to dismiss arguments and research to the contrary.
=== Jewish influence on circumcision literature ===
Though American circumcision practice is generally believed to be independent of Jewish circumcision practice, they are connected; some of the most outspoken advocates for circumcision tend to be Jewish. The [[American Academy of Pediatrics]] has consistently disproportionately stuffed its "circumcision task forces" with Jewish doctors. It is believed that not a single member of an AAP Task Force on Circumcision has ever had a foreskin. This suggests a religious or cultural bias on the part of these advocates. Of course, there are also Jewish doctors that oppose circumcision, but they are disproportionately outnumbered by those who advocate circumcision. For example, of all the letters to the editor in response to the 1999 American Academy of Pediatrics Circumcision Policy Statement, the most pro-circumcision responses were from Jewish doctors, including two whom also perform Jewish ritual circumcisions.<ref>{{REFjournal |last=Bailis |first=S. |title=Circumcision: the debate goes on. '' |journal=Pediatrics'' |date=2000; |volume=105: |page=682.}}</ref><ref>{{REFjournal |last=Kunin |first=S. |title=Circumcision: the debate goes on. '' |journal=Pediatrics'' |date=2000; |volume=105: |pages=683.}}</ref><ref>{{REFjournal |last=Shechet |first=J, . |last2=Tanenbaum |first2=B. |title=Circumcision: the debate goes on. '' |journal=Pediatrics'' |date=2000; |volume=105: |pages=682-683.}}</ref> The voices of Jewish doctors--[[Abraham L. Wolbarst| Wolbarst]], Ravich, Weiss, Fink, [[Edgar J. Schoen| Schoen]], and others--are disproportionately prominent in circumcision advocacy.
Although physicians may act with what they consider to be sound medical judgement, some Jewish physicians may be influenced also by non-medical consideration. Cultural background of many Jewish circumcision advocates predisposes them to view the practice in a positive light, to welcome evidence that the most particular and problematic religious custom of their people is medically beneficial, and to dismiss arguments to the contrary. The presence of a large and influential population of Jewish physicians in this country, their concentration in leading centers of research and publication, and their remarkably active participation in the century-long debate on circumcision seems too obvious and too significant to be rejected out of hand, or worse, to be avoided because it might be wrongly interpreted as gratuitous defamation.<ref>{{REFbook
|note=The presence of a large and influential population of Jewish physicians in this country...
|accessdate=2011-02-19
}}</ref> According to a MEDLINE search, [[Edgar J. Schoen| Edgar Schoen]], a strong Jewish advocate, has been published 20 times in the medical literature on the subject of circumcision.
==== Circumcision discourse and the Jewish presence ====
According to the AAP Circumcision Policy Statement of 1999, in regards to infant circumcision, "It is legitimate for parents to take into account cultural, religious, and ethnic traditions, in addition to the medical factors." Furthermore, "parents of all male infants should be given accurate and unbiased information and be provided the opportunity to discuss this decision," and that they should "should not be coerced by medical professionals to make this choice."<ref name="aap1999">{{REFjournal |last=AAP Task Force on Circumcision. [ |url=http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;103/3/686#B119 |title=Circumcision Policy Statement]. '' |journal=Pediatrics'' |date=1999; |volume=103( |issue=3): |pages=686-693. - AAP Policy Statement 1999 Retrieved |accessdate=2011-03-13}}</ref>
The AAP puts physicians in a difficult position; on the one hand, they should be giving accurate and unbiased information to parents, but on the other, providing any information discouraging circumcision would put doctors in a position of attacking religious belief. This suggests that religion may be a factor that inhibits the full disclosure of medical information and medical views on circumcision and that American discussion or questioning of the issue is affected by the Jewish presence. Therefore, the creators of this wiki believe that mentioning religious affiliation is relevant to assessing potential bias when it comes to the subject of circumcision.
=== Circumcision and Islam ===
Although circumcision is never mentioned in the Qur'an, male circumcision is deeply rooted in the [[Genital cutting in Islam| Muslim tradition]]. Muhammad is reported to have prescribed cutting the foreskin as a fitrah, a measure of personal cleanliness. Modern Muslims see circumcision as essential to their faith, although they have also come to lean on arguments of "medical benefits." A conference of Islamic scholars in 1987 stated that modern circumcision studies “[reflect] the wisdom of the Islamic statements”.<ref>{{REFbook |last=Gollaher, |first=David L. '' |title=Circumcision: A History of the World's Most Controversial Surgery''. |location=New York: |publisher=Basic Books, |year=2000.}}</ref>
== Personal bias ==