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'''Aaron J. Fink''', M.D., (1926-1994) was a California urologist, and the father of the idea that circumcision could prevent AIDS. He came up with the idea in 1986,<ref>{{REFbook

}}</ref> and vehemently promoted it,<ref>{{REFjournal

| last=Weiss

=== Popularizing The Hypothesis ===

Fink's proposal appeared in media throughout the US and Canada. Asked about his idea by a United Press reporter, Fink replied "This is nothing I can prove."<ref>{{REFbook

}} </ref> This didn't stop other physicians from conducting "research" leading to a steady stream of widely publicized articles arguing that circumcised men were less likely to contract HIV--with the result that prevention of HIV infection has now surpassed even cancer prevention as the most popular claim of circumcision advocates.

According to Fink, if his book were to "provide the knowledge and insight that might save even one life from the tragedy of AIDS the effort was worthwhile." Since one of the book's seven chapters was entitled "Preventing AIDS: Another Benefit of Newborn Circumcision," the average reader might have concluded that this was fact and not superstition.<ref>{{REFbook

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In response to the controversy surrounding the Fink's resolution, and Hardebeck's attempt to counteract it, a group of circumcision opponents held a conference in a hotel across the street from the one housing the medical meeting. The conference organizer was the nation's leading opponent of infant circumcision: Marilyn F. Milos. the founder and director of the National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers (NOCIRC).<ref>Marilyn Milos, personal communication with Leonard B. Glick, July 27, 2001</ref><ref>Hardebeck, John W. "Newborn Circumcision: Medical Necessity or Useless Mutilation?" Truth Seeker I, 3 (July-August 1989)</ref><ref>Snyder, "Testimony Against Circumcision." (California Medical Association, March 4, 1989.) Truth Seeker I, 3 (July-August 1989): 51.</ref> The three-day conference, labeled the First International Symposium on Circumcision, was so successful that six more symposia, resulting to date in publication of four volumes based on the proceedings, have been held since then, in locations as diverse as Lausanne, Oxford and Sidney.<ref>Denniston, George C., and Marilyn Fayre Milos, eds. ''Sexual Mutilations : A Human Tragedy''. New York: Plenum, 1997.</ref><ref>Denniston, George C., Frederick Mansfield Hodges, and Marilyn Fayre Milos, eds. ''Male and Female Circumcision: Medical, Legal, and Ethical Considerations in Pediatric Practice''. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum, 1999.</ref><ref>Denniston, George C., Frederick Mansfield Hodges, and Marilyn Fayre Milos, eds. ''Understanding Circumcision; A Multi-Disciplinary Aproach to a Multi-Dimensional Problem''. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum, 2001.</ref><ref>Denniston, George C., Frederick Mansfield Hodges, and Marilyn Fayre Milos, eds. ''Flesh and Blood: Perspectives on the Problem of Circumcision in Contemporary Society''. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum, 2004.</ref> It could be said that Fink unintentionally created a vigorous new expression of opposition to circumcision.

Fink sent a letter to the British medical journal, prompting two hostile replies, both from Leeds physicians.<ref>Fink, Aaron J. "Newborn Circumcision: A Long-term Strategy for AIDS Prevention" (letter). Journal of the Royal Medical Society 82 (1989): 695.</ref><ref>Waugh M.A., Spicer R.D ''Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine'' 83. (April 1990): 278.</ref> In 1991 Fink wrote another letter, claiming infants have no memory of painful events until age six months or older.<ref>Fink, Aaron J. "Circumcision and Sand." ''Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine'' 84 (November 1991): 696</ref> He died in 1994, but the campaign to link HIV infection to the foreskin continues to this day.