Posted on 07/16/2004 8:42:13 AM PDT by 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.
I once knew a Pediatrician that saved all the foreskins from circumcisions that he did and sewed them together to make a wallet. The only problem was that, when you rubbed it, it became a suitcase.
Just a little circumcision humor there.
I'm with mom on this one. Two and one-half is too old for surgery that has no real medical benefit. My own son is circumcised, so I don't have any strong bias here.
According to the article, Dad has full custody. I don't see why the mother should have any say in the matter.
Agreed. She should pay her child support and STFU.
LOL.......maybe because it's Friday, but I laughed out loud in my cubicle just now!
It seems to me that this isn't about the child at all. The child is a tool in this battle for either party to get revenge for previous arguments in the custody battle.
I could be wrong about it, tho'!
I'm afraid I've unwittingly denied my son so he could "look like Dad."
And, I don't care what anybody says about baby's not feeling it, that's got to hurt.
What about the kid?
Now for the serious opinion: Why is this even an issue, when the father has sole custody? Doesn't "sole custody" MEAN just that anymore, or has our society become so diluted with situational ethics that there can't be any absolutes?
Not my experience.
There is no such thing.
Grow up, little boy.
thank you. You beat me to it actually. I was busy laughing at johniegrad's joke.
I think a circumcision would be emotionally damaging for a child who is old enough to be self-aware, but not old enough to comprehend why the proceedure was done. That being said, he's not my kid, and mom has zero say in the matter.
You're probably correct.
What about him? I had abdominal surgery when I was six years old. My parents didn't ask me for my consent.
PFFFTT! LOL! Now my boss is looking at me like I'm crazy for spewing RC Cola all over the place.
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