Mo. High Court May Decide Whether Boy Can Be Circumcised

Kansas City Channel ^ | July 15, 2004

[presidio9]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- For most little boys, circumcision is a decision for the parents to make. But the Missouri Supreme Court may make that decision for one local boy because his parents don't agree.

Two-and-a-half-year-old Ethan Azar's mother does not want to have him circumcised.

"There's no medical society in the world that recommends it, including the American Academy of Pediatrics," said Camille Azar.

But Ethan's father was recently granted sole custody. He wants his son circumcised. While the boy's father and his attorney would not appear on camera, they did cite personal, social and health reasons for wanting the circumcision, KMBC's Kelly Eckerman reported.

Circumcision removes the layer of skin covering the penis. It is something more and more parents are opting not to do, Eckerman said. The medical community calls it a personal decision.

"Everyone has their bias. But we try to base recommendations on sound medical evidence and it just isn't there to say yes or no," Dr. Ken Wible said.

Lower courts refused to intervene, so the case is now going to the Missouri Supreme Court to see if Ethan's father should be able to go ahead with the circumcision.

"The fact the courts have ruled he can make medical decisions doesn't mean he can make a decision to have part of the healthy living flesh of the child cut off," said Dennis Owens, Camille Azar's attorney.

Doctors did tell KMBC that Ethan's age is a factor.

"At that age, a child is going to need anesthesia," Wible said.

Camille Azar said that the decision should be up to her son when he's older.

"I want Ethan to make the decision about his own body," Camille Azar said.

Eckerman said that religion plays a role in some families' decisions about circumcision, but that has not been an issue here. The battle over Ethan's circumcision comes in the middle of a custody battle. A decision from the state's high court is expected within two weeks.

[BrynS728]

There are health considerations with this, such as increased risk of infection for uncircumcised individuals. Also it is a fact that the proceedure is much simpler with less post-op complications when done as an infant or small child rather than as an adult

When I worked in the hospital, I saw first hand an adult who had to undergo circumcision due to chronic infection of the foreskin, and it was the most painful looking thing I've ever seen. (I saw the post-op result, not the actual procedure) I believe that more than 120 stitches were used. After that, I vowed that any male children of mine would be circumcised as an infant so they would not have to endure something like this as an adult. That said, IMO if this child is to be circumcised, do it now, rather than letting him "decide himself" as an adult. I can't believe any adult would willingly choose this.

Finally, since the doctors feel it is an individual decision with no opinion one way or other, then the parent with full custody should decide - in this case, the father.

[LonghornFreeper]

>>Isn't it interesting there's so much hoopla over circumcision and folks crying about letting the kid decide when he's an adult but there's never a peep over parents piercing their baby daughter's ears.

Pierced body parts, especially ears, close up in a relatively short time. Such is obviously not the case with circumcision. That said, I still think it is idiotic for parents to have their babies get body piercings. It is your child, not a fashion object.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I have no clue on anything.

[cyborg]

You're bad *LOL*

[cyborg]

LOL!!!

[Centurion2000]

You're bad *LOL*

Yeah, but life is more interesting when you're a little bad ... >:)

But you are absolutely right about a woman telling the guy what she will and will not do. That way perhaps even before taking her as a sexual partner they both are made aware of any sexual incompatibilities in each other.

[Bella_Bru]

A guy should not waste a girl's time if he is going to dump her over sex.

I don't think anyone should waste anyone else's time.

I wouldn't want some guy who didn't want to get and give wasting my time either.

[Bella_Bru]

your threads run to the penile? well look on the bright side, it is still considered NEWSworthy....

Shhh! They'll hear you and before you know it we'll be in the chat dungeon.

[US admirer]

< img src="http://www.smartklamp.com/img/img_skopen1.jpg">

http://www.smartklamp.com/parents/thesmartklamp.html

The SmartKlamp® a new invention

The SmartKlamp® is a new, one time use only, circumcision tool, which is designed to create, a safer, faster, and smarter way to perform circumcisions.

The SmartKlamp® is a small plastic device, which workings can be compared with the umbilical cord clamp. It consists of a plastic transparent tube of polycarbonate, and a white clamping mechanism of nylon. It is very light and easy to use.

The SmartKlamp® has been designed using the latest plastic technology, and is produced according the highest quality standards in an ISO 9002, EN 46000 certified plant in Singapore.

Through its unique design the SmartKlamp® provides for full protection of the penis during the circumcision, and gives a cosmetically predictable result. It makes the circumcision practically bloodless, which helps reducing the risk of spreading infections like AIDS or Hepatitis.

The SmartKlamp® comes in various sizes, from newborn (10mm) to adult, and is individually EO sterilized packed. Every SmartKlamp® is supplied with a size-0-meter, to ensure you select the right size of device.

Safety aspects:

Thanks to the special design the penis is protected from the scalpel throughout the circumcision procedure, so no unwanted cuts can take place
There is practically no blood during the circumcision, as the blood vessels of the foreskin are trapped by the SmartKlamp®, so no spreading of infections like AIDS or Hepatitis, and no antibiotics are required.
No stitching needed as the SmartKlamp takes over the wound healing process.
The SmartKlamp is sterilized, and can only be used once.
The SmartKlamp is made according the most modern plastic technology, which guarantees a consistent and very strong and reliable device

[US admirer]

perhaps someone can post the image that I tried to put up above

[cyborg]

Plus lots of time for that sort of thing much later, as in after getting married later ;-)

[HairOfTheDog]

What I can't stand are people who can't figure these solutions out between them without going to the courts... Good grief people, be reasonable.

[Bella_Bru]

Plus lots of time for that sort of thing much later, as in after getting married later ;-)

I would be pissed if I married someone only to find out they aren't the least bit into oral sex. How dull. And then your stuck with them. Yay.

[cyborg]

Hehehe that's true and there's nothing wrong with conversation. I just don't know about some guys' relentless pursuit of oral.

[Tijeras_Slim]

perhaps someone can post the image that I tried to put up above

[HairOfTheDog]

I reluctantly agreed to my son's circumcision, and I regret it. I know two other men who were snipped as adults, and both said sensation is decreased.

A heck, don't beat yourself up Tonto.... if guys got any more pleasure from that thing, they'd never get a dang thing done. :~D

[US admirer]

very funny! ha ha.

Now c'mon- be nice.

[cyborg]

Er....steal that out of Hillary's tool box? heheheh I said tool.

[malakhi]

and if the kid doesn't want it in the future?

They're called "minors" for a reason.

But hey, if you wish to permit your children to make this or any other decision, I won't object.

[Jape]

All other considerations are moot.;) Mutilating yourself so that girls will like giving oral better is pretty damn gay if you ask me. Incidentally, there's a correlation between circumcision and 'deviant behaviors', including homosexuality. Also, women will be happy to know that intact men don't need lubricants and that they provide greater pleasure to the women. I'm circumcised by the way, but have kept my two sons intact. My wife wanted them cut but now she's glad they weren't. Circ rates in this country are plummeting and the circumcised are going to be the ones looking strange in a generation or two.