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.
Sounds like someone's trying to blame a genetics issue on a botched circumcision.
Well, it looks like the thread has petered out...
Denial is the first sign.
"In this day and age, a girl needs to make it quite clear to guys what she will and will not do in a relationship. A guy should not waste a girl's time if he is going to dump her over sex."
I couldn't agree more. It's not fair for someone to waste anyone's time if he/she knows that they can't hang in there for the long haul.
But boy, have times changed since I was single. Or maybe it's just me.
To me, the physical appearance of various body parts, particularly those that are hidden during what used to be known as "courtship," really doesn't matter. You either love the person or you don't.
As a woman, I really find the whole issue of whether or not a potential mate is circumcised to be pointless. If I love someone and we get to that point, it doesn't matter.
Anyway, thanks for your reply. :)
"And, I don't care what anybody says about baby's not feeling it, that's got to hurt."
I agree, yes, of course it hurts. I'm sure some doctor Freeper will correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm guessing that baby boys are born with the same nerve endings that adult men have. So it probably hurts even more, cutting that particular part of the body.
"Why did they wait til he was 2.5 years old?"
That's the million dollar question. I think Dad just decided to assert his control once he got full custody.
Poor kid. On that, I think we can all agree.
yep
I had six children.
You took a sarcastic statement too literally, but I'll stick by my point.
So, what's the charge for something like that....?
As the circumcision of girls is illegal, boys should at least have a chance to wait until they are old enough to make an informed decision. And in almost all cases, that decision should be no, as the benefits seldom outweigh the risks.
Ordinarily I would agree as I'm in favor of father's rights, but in this case I feel it is superseded by the right of a male to choose whether to be circumcised or not.
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