Posted on 02/02/2005 8:14:33 PM PST by finnman69
City health officials are trying to stop a Rockland County rabbi from performing circumcisions, after a baby boy died from herpes he allegedly contracted from the rabbi during a circumcision.
The city Department of Health said Wednesday it is seeking a permanent injunction against Rabbi Yitzhok Fischer. The DOH says Fischer uses an ancient religious custom of using his mouth to suck the infant's blood after cutting the foreskin.
According to court papers filed in Manhattan, a 3-week-old boy died from herpes 10 days after he and his twin brother were circumcised by Fischer in October. The boy’s twin was also infected with the virus.
In addition, a Staten Island boy was also reportedly infected with herpes after a circumcision performed by Fischer in 2003.
DOH officials say Fischer did not comply with an order given in November to stop performing circumcisions and to have his blood tested.
“Infants, particularly under the age of six months, are highly susceptible to infections. They do not have a functioning immune system," said Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Frieden.
Fischer's attorney says his client is cooperating with the city in an effort to determine what he says it “the true source” of the infection.
I'm talking about parents like ourselves that used midwives rather than doctors. They are less likely to circumcise anyway and explore other options if they do.
More than 30 years ago in 1971 the American Academy of Pediatrics said, "There are no valid medical indications for circumcision in the neonatal period."
In 2005 every professional medical organization that has an official policy on circumcision says there is no medical indication for infant circumcision.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia says:
"Infant male circumcision was once considered a preventive health measure and was therefore adopted extensively in Western countries. Current understanding of the benefits, risks and potential harm of this procedure, however, no longer supports this practice for prophylactic health benefit. Routine infant male circumcision performed on a healthy infant is now considered a non-therapeutic and medically unnecessary intervention." -- Infant Male Circumcision (Jun 2004)
Questioning Circumcision: A Jewish Perspective
by Ronald Goldman, PhD
My sister and I bought this book last summer before my niece was born (we didn't know what she was carrying at the time.) Gives great background on the ancient tradition and also talks about why some people still partake in the ritual.
I guess the first thing parents that are uneducated need to know is that your son is still Jewish whether circumcised or not-at least in the Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist movements...
Hope this helps.
thanks!
They sound like loons.
Cheers!
Is this because (by your screen name) you are from "Old Europe" ? /grin
Thanks for the information--I was wondering if the procedure was on the level.
Sure am glad I restrained from posting the corny jokes swimming around in my head; I truly would be hanging my head in shame right now.
I agree with your sentiments regarding the Rabbi.
Never in my life have I heard of a Rabbi sucking the blood like this. OMG.
That is just sickening. With all due respect to my Jewish friends, I would never let a man suck the blood (or anything for that matter) off my child's penis regardless of its religious roots and symbolism. That is just downright nasty. Right before dinner too... ughh ...thanks. :(
I have no idea what you are trying to say.
That is, if you are trying to say anything at all.
Because removing the labia would have the opposite effect...increased baterial, yeast and viral infections. The glans penis is an extetrnal organ, so the foreskin is nothing but a trap for dirt and bacteria and does nothign to protect the penis opening from harmful substances, unlike the internal vaginal canal, which is indeed protected.
Dirt? My god man, you're not supposed to use your tool for digging!
ROTFLMAO
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