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.
"Well that's why some things need to be discussed very early in the relationship."
Please don't take this wrong, but this sentence made me laugh. I'm just picturing a conversation at a bar:
man: "Hi, what's your sign?"
woman: "Aries. What's yours?"
man: "Taurus. Wanna go out sometime?"
woman: "Maybe. Are you circumcised?"
I'm just having a hard time imagining how such a discussion taking place before two people are already semi-committed to each other. I must be old-fashioned.
As to the substance, now that the little boy is already 2 1/2, such an irreversible procedure should not be done and he can decide for himself when he's an adult.
expect this thread to be in the hundreds with flame wars hehehe
I'll have no credibility on that issue, considering some of the girls I went out with.
"Son, you shouldn't date strippers because, um, well. I NEVER did anything like that when I was your age. Yeah. that's my story and I'm sticking to it."
your threads run to the penile? well look on the bright side, it is still considered NEWSworthy....
>>granted sole custody
Case closed, should be thrown out of court.
Only avenue, IMO, is a change of custody attempt.
You're going to get another time out, if you're not careful.
I'm with you Tonto.
"A child when he reaches majority should be able to sue both the doctor and the parent for ritual mutilation!"
hmmm..... you might have a point.
No, these days I only seem to get a time out when I make a note of incompetance by the Admin Moderator.
And I don't do that any more.
Oh, blahblahblah.
Q: How long does it take for a woman to reach orgasm?
A: Who cares!
Uh... just kidding, ladies!
This is what happens when you post a thread like this on a Friday. ;-)
On the plus side we've had no pictures... *g*
Oh dear.....
Hey, Mommy! Shoulda guessed you'd turn up on a peter thread!
Find another girl ;)
>>The point is, it is not necessary to obtain the consent of a minor child before doing a medical procedure.
Before doing a necessary medical procedure. This is just a cosmetic job. If the dad was demanding that the child get his tongue or lip pierced would you say the same thing? Nobody recommends this procedure, so to me it is no different than if the dad wanted the doctor to cut off some other functional, but unneccessary part of the body, the earlobe for example.
That one is older than me. I vote for waiting until he is old enough to decide for himself. I was circumcised as and infant and so was my son. I'm glad I was and he is too.
Why did they wait til he was 2.5 years old?
i have NO idea what you are talking about.... ; )
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.
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