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.

[ChicagoHebrew]

I said they aren't "fully developed." They are partially developed. The local anesthetic removes the rest of the pain.

[Mark17]

A lot of guys then...

LOL, here comes another FReep mail.

[secret garden]

Nice try, but not true.

[Glenn]

Trying to absolutely confirm your total lack of a sense of humor?

Is that a question?

There is "potty" humor and "mature" humor. You're apparently stuck in the former kind. I am sure you will grow out of it, given enough time.

[CindyDawg]

They don't do this in the delivery room. There is this little thing called a release form that doctors like to see mom and dad both sign. Liability, you know, Duh!!!!! LOL. I sound like my 4 year old. How old are you?

[flashbunny]

I'm amazed that they've both found lawyers that will work for tips.

[Thinkin' Gal]

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.

Exodus 1:7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

...once in the throws of passion, things look differently, so to speak.

Not to intentionally pick nits...but your sentence structure leaves the visual impression of a male's anatomical attribute with eyes.

And to intentionally pick a nit...'throws' should be 'throes'.

[Elsie]

There goes one Jewish stereotype out the window!

Muslim, too!

---

Read the Book..........

[aruanan]

"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.

The medical evidence isn't there to say yes (someone married to a circumcised man may be less likely to get cervical cancer). But it is there to say no (someone who is circumcised definitely will lose the complete functionality of the sexual apparatus and the way it was supposed to work). Unfortunately a lot of opposition to leaving the baby uncircumcised as he was made is of the kind voiced by a sister-in-law: "Eeeuuuu! Of course we're going to circumcise him! Otherwise we'd have to clean it all the time!"

Yeah, and why not just get the kid a colostomy, too, until he's old enough to start wiping his own butt?

[Elsie]

"Let's only circ him 1/2 way?"

My only complaint is that they didn't use PINKING SHEARS on me!!!!

[Freebird Forever]

There was an infant born here recently who came into the world almost perfect. The only minor defect being that the eyelids were missing. Fortunately, the child was a boy and after the circumcision was completed there was enough skin left over to fashion a pair of eyelids for the lad.

He came through with flying colors!

The only problem being that now he sees everything a little cockeyed.

: )

[Elsie]

And probably a SURPRISED look when a pretty girl goes by........

:)

8)

[HairOfTheDog]

Incidentally, there's a correlation between circumcision and 'deviant behaviors', including homosexuality.

Jeepers.... that is ridiculous. For adult men of my generation and older, circumcision was more common than not, and I believe, still is.

I do love the righteous who love to hang out on threads talking about sex organs.... I think it allows them to obsess about pornographic subjects while claiming to be righteously indignant about the whole discussion! (refresh refresh)

[CindyDawg]

Well Duh!!! lol

[gcruse]

I would be pissed if I married someone only to find out they aren't the least bit into oral sex. How dull.

Been there, done that. Found out too late she loved getting it, wouldn't give it.  Could it have saved the marriage?  Wouldn't have hurt.

[HairOfTheDog]

I tell you, this whole discussion just offends me! (refresh refresh)

[HairOfTheDog]

In this case it's an unnecessary, irreversible procedure. The only reason I "gave in" was for the sake of my marriage. If my wife and I were estranged, I could see the issue escalating.

Really strange. I just don't get it.

[CindyDawg]

It was actually a good topic that has guttered. I keep getting pinged back and look to see if back on subject. As I posted elsewhere today, I'm not a prude and there are very few threads I walk away from but this one in the toilet. Sigh...boys and their toys, like everyone wants to know the details of their sex life. lol. Maybe their mommas will see their posts:') Later Dudette!

[NCjim]

My only complaint is that they didn't use PINKING SHEARS on me!!!!

That reminds me of an album (vinyl) from my college days a few decades ago - the guy DID have that, and ended up with what he called a "frilly dilly". *g*