Changes

'''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

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

==Non-therapeutic circumcision and Australian law===== International human rights law ===

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]].

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.

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].

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

[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"/>

The [[RACP]], a [[medical trade association]], issued a new 18-page prmotional promotional policy statement, entitled ''Circumcision of infant males'', in December 2022.<ref name="RACP2022">{{REFdocument

The statement failed to mention the circumcision [[death ]] in Perth, nor did it mention the advice of the 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>

The 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=BellmaineHall

|init=SPG

|title=LetterCircumcision

|date=1971-0407-24 |volume=12 |issue=4

|page=1148223

|url=https://www.cirp.org/library/statements/apa1971/

|pubmedID=5093878

}}</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-two 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]]. 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.