Should Circumcisions be Illegal?

Rothmans · 21-08-2011 07:14PM #1

Well AH, I'm not usually one for making threads, but I've been thinking about this for a few days now after seeing the episode of Seinfeld about the circumcision. The one where Kramer goes mad to stop it.

Anyhow,there is apparently a 2% risk of serious harm involved with this procedure and according to this source, approx 117 infants die from circumcisions each year in the US alone!
Its not common practice here ( > 1%), so it isn't that much of a debated topic here.
However, if this procedure was to be performed on the female genital organs it would be labbed 'genital mutilation', but its ok to perform the same procedure on male infants. In fact, as this article points out ( a bit dated, I know), its illegal in the US, whilst the majority of male infants are circumcised. That seems at least a bit discriminatory.

Overall, I think it should not be legal (not even for certain religious traditions), unless it is medically necessary or the person who is getting the operation has reached the aged of majority and can give informed consent.

So, what do the people of AH think of this issue?

Eric Cartman · 21-08-2011 07:15PM

unless for medical reason - yes, religions are nuts

Saila · 21-08-2011 07:16PM

No not for adults

21-08-2011 07:16PM

Rothmans wrote: »

Well AH, I'm not usually one for making threads, but I've been thinking about this for a few days now after seeing the episode of Seinfeld about the circumcision. The one where Kramer goes mad to stop it.

Anyhow,there is apparently a 2% risk of serious harm involved with this procedure and according to this source, approx 117 infants die from circumcisions each year in the US alone!
Its not common practice here ( < 1%), so it isn't that much of a debated topic here.
However, if this procedure was to be performed on the female genital organs it would be labbed 'genital mutilation', but its ok to perform the same procedure on male infants. In fact, as this article points out ( a bit dated, I know), its illegal in the US, whilst the majority of male infants are circumcised. That seems at least a bit discriminatory.

Overall, I think it should not be legal (not even for certain religious traditions), unless it is medically necessary or the person who is getting the operation has reached the aged of majority and can give informed consent.

So, what do the people of AH think of this issue?

FYP

Sorry for being a Pedantic Pat

I don't think it should be illegal for consenting adults. It is after all more hygenic

Rothmans · 21-08-2011 07:18PM

No, it should be legal

Saila wrote: »

No not for adults

Yes, and I've provided for that, but I'm referring specifically to the circumcision of infants.

Rothmans · 21-08-2011 07:22PM

No, it should be legal

Starla_o0 wrote: »

FYP

Sorry for being a Pedantic Pat

I don't think it should be illegal for consenting adults. It is after all more hygenic

Yes,just to make it absolutely clear at this point.

I'm Referring to infant circumcision only, not adults!!!

galwayrush · 21-08-2011 07:23PM

No, it should be legal

It should be free because it's a ****ing rip off.:D

21-08-2011 07:24PM

Rothmans wrote: »

Yes,just to make it absolutely clear at this point.

I'm Referring to infant circumcision only, not adults!!!

relax and change the title so...JEEEZZZZZZZEEEEEEEEEEE :rolleyes:

galwayrush · 21-08-2011 07:25PM

No, it should be legal

Starla_o0 wrote: »

relax and change the title so...JEEEZZZZZZZEEEEEEEEEEE :rolleyes:

Sounds like a sore point to the OP.:pac:

Rothmans · 21-08-2011 07:26PM

No, it should be legal

Starla_o0 wrote: »

relax and change the title so...JEEEZZZZZZZEEEEEEEEEEE :rolleyes:

I thought I made it clear in the poll and my op though.

hatrickpatrick · 21-08-2011 07:27PM

Unless it's 100% medically essential, then any surgical procedure should have to wait until you're old enough to decide for yourself.

Why the hell aren't more people demanding equality here? If you even thought about touching a baby girl's clitoral hood, you would be (rightly) massacred for it.

Why are guys' parts considered less important?

Chuck Stone · 21-08-2011 07:28PM

It's a barbaric practice.

I'm not sure making it illegal would be helpful as it might end up killing more children than it already does by making it more secretive.

Maybe the religions who practice it should be the ones to initiate change.

It's not an easy question to answer.

Starla_o0 wrote: »

It is after all more hygenic

For dirty bastards who don't wash their knobs perhaps.

MungBean · 21-08-2011 07:30PM

No, it should be legal

Oh no not my foreskin......is what that kid would say ! To the bluffs !!!

rubadub · 21-08-2011 07:30PM

Eric Cartman wrote: »

unless for medical reason

And remember there are alternatives for most medical reasons, e.g. if the foreskin is too tight it can be stretched with no need for invasive surgery, leaving all sexually responsive nerve endings fully intact.

EDIT: damn voted the wrong way...

Condatis · 21-08-2011 07:31PM

Starla_o0 wrote: »

FYP

Sorry for being a Pedantic Pat

I don't think it should be illegal for consenting adults. It is after all more hygenic

In what sense is it more hygienic? Surely if you observe hygienic protocols in relation to cleanliness generally there is no hygiene issue!

Otherwise one could argue that a shaven head is more hygienic than a head of hair. Where would that leave the shampoo business?

brownlad · 21-08-2011 07:33PM

im circumcised and i must say it feels rather mint

lol... and plus bishes love it !

yawha · 21-08-2011 07:38PM

brownlad wrote: »

im circumcised and i must say it feels rather mint lol... and plus bishes love it !

Jew would think that.

MetalDog · 21-08-2011 07:47PM

No, it should be legal

yawha wrote: »

Jew would think that.

Circumcision jokes are all very funny, but there is a cut off point...

My name is URL · 21-08-2011 07:52PM

No, it should be legal

I don't understand how anyone can justify it being carried out on children for non-medical reasons.

Overheal · 21-08-2011 07:52PM

Oh look it's this thread again.

Spread · 21-08-2011 08:14PM

No, it should be legal

My name is URL wrote: »

I don't understand how anyone can justify it being carried out on children for non-medical reasons.

I think it is OK if for psychological psychiatric reasons

Sierra 117 · 21-08-2011 08:23PM

No, it should be legal

It should definitely be illegal for those under the age of consent. Parents should not be allowed to have this procedure performed on their children. It's barbaric.

Biggins · 21-08-2011 08:24PM

No, it should be legal

There should be a third option - Illegal in most cases except on genuine medical grounds.
If there was a third option, I suspect the voting sway would be greatly different.

Can we have a do-over?

Amhran Nua · 21-08-2011 08:49PM

No, it should be legal

Primitive mutilation of the genitals of children for religious reasons should be illegal.

Chuck Stone · 21-08-2011 08:54PM

Biggins wrote: »

Illegal in most cases except on genuine medical grounds.

Amhran Nua wrote: »

Primitive mutilation of the genitals of children for religious reasons should be illegal.

Are you folks who want it illegal not worried that that will just drive it underground and end up doing more harm than good?

That would be my concern about making it illegal.

RoyalMarine · 21-08-2011 09:22PM

Rothmans wrote: »

Yes,just to make it absolutely clear at this point.

I'm Referring to infant circumcision only, not adults!!!

ah **** i voted for legal as i thought adults need them from time to time...

but didnt know this was religion based...

Tar.Aldarion · 21-08-2011 09:24PM

i wouldnt have a pen0r if i had been circumcised as it protected me from a blade, and it saved me I'm told, it's here for a reason!

ballsymchugh · 21-08-2011 09:26PM

there's a fierce amount of fellas squirming uncomfortably reading this thread.

Artur Foden · 21-08-2011 09:29PM

No, it should be legal

if there are medical reasons in adults and children then go ahead..

for religious or cultural reason in infants illegal

and if adults want to have it done without a medical reason then that's their business

AnneElizabeth · 21-08-2011 09:32PM

No, it should be legal

It's disgusting, I cannot understand how this is legal in this day and age. I cannot understand why anyone of any age would even want it.
Doing it to a child is wrong on so many levels.

Amhran Nua · 21-08-2011 09:32PM

No, it should be legal

Chuck Stone wrote: »

Are you folks who want it illegal not worried that that will just drive it underground and end up doing more harm than good?

That would be my concern about making it illegal.

It's a valid concern, but one that should be pretty easy to allay - if a child goes in for a medical checkup and is missing his foreskin, it's serious question time.

Should Circumcisions be Illegal?

Should circumcisions of infants be illegal? (unless medically required) 92 votes

Comments