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→2020 WWDOGA speech: Wikify.
Already in 2012, all associations of pediatric and adolescent medicine in Germany had spoken out against cutting off the penile foreskin of children or adolescents without a medical reason. The Commission for Ethical Questions of the German Academy for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine confirmed once again in 2016 that such interventions are not in line with the child's best interests. They contradict medical ethics not to harm.
Since the [[Cologne circumcision court judgment| Cologne ruling ]] in 2012, I have been thinking a lot about the circumcision of children and adolescents and I wrote many articles about it. I was involved in the statement of our ethics committee and also in the formulation of the medical guidelines on circumcision, which have been were published in 2016 and currently are being revised.
We all know that Muslim and Jewish boys are circumcised for religious reasons and that these circumcisions are not medically necessary. However, most people do not know that many more boys are [[circumcised]] in the medical field than would be necessary due to a disease of the [[foreskin]]. Without any religious background. Billing data from the health insurance funds tell us that every tenth boy is operated on the foreskin. Year for year. Scientific data on the diseases of the foreskin show that for at most 3% of all cases a surgery is necessary. So it is very likely that two out of three circumcisions made for medical reasons are not necessary.
As a doctor and as a medical ethicist, I'm sad about that. Because we as doctors shouldn't harm with our work. I know that many men never feel at a disadvantage because they were [[circumcised]] as children. But I also know that there are many men who suffer from it throughout their life. We cannot predict the development. However, one thing is certain: a removed foreskin can never be restored.
What about circumcision for religious reasons or due to tradition? As doctors, we cannot and do not want to talk anyone into one's religion. However, we can and must always explain that there are usually no medically medical reasons for these circumcisions. The alleged medical benefit is repeatedly held towars towards us, but is does not exist, at least not in Germany and not in Europe. Today we have different hygienic standards and different medical options than in the days of Abraham and Mohamed.
The pediatricians in Germany have been demanding for years that we should have a societal dialog about this. After the Cologne ruling and after the German Bundestag passed the so-called "Circumcision Law" in 2012, many groups found this dialog necessary. They were almost enthusiastic. However, the idea fell asleep. Everyone lives well with the current situation, except those affected. One acts according to the motto: <q>Better not touch it.</q>
Parents have the right to have their sons [[circumcised ]] because the state has given parents' rights and the fundamental right to freedom of religion priority over children's right to physical integrity. This was also possible because children's rights are still not anchored in the constitution.
Today is corona crisis, today everything is different. In the light of great health risks for the population - especially for older people - it was surprisingly easy to restrict free exercise of religion. It was just as surprisingly easy to limit parenting rights by closing the playgrounds and drastically limiting contacts and freedom of movement. Mind you, I am not against these measures. On the contrary, I think it is urgently needed until we have a vaccine or a good drug in our hands.
But perhaps one of the lessons from this crisis is that traditional beliefs are being put to the test. That it always has to go on with the unnecessary injury to so many little boys. Violation from religious and traditional motives, violation from disregard for medical standards and violation because the parents want it that way.
I wish that all children can grow up with their genitals [[intact ]] unless there are good medical reasons for early surgery. I wish that all children can find and live their sexual identity independently and without traumatic stress. Thank you for listening and I wish you health and perseverance.
|Author=Dr. [[{{FULLPAGENAME}}]]
|Source=[[WWDOGA]] 2020