Circumcision

When it comes to infant male circumcision there’s been an astonishing change in Australia over the past 30 years.

While nearly half of the adult male population has been circumcised, today as few as 10 to 20 per cent of newborn baby boys get it done. We’ve given the snip, the snip, and the scalpel of old is collecting dust.

In fact, the federal government is even reviewing whether the procedure should still qualify for Medicare benefits. Leading medical authorities don’t believe there’s a substantial medical justification for it.

Continue reading "Is it time to give circumcision the big snip?" »

Should circumcision be banned? Is it mutilation or a culturally and medically significant practice?

That’s the question facing legislators in San Francisco after a controversial, but successful, campaign lead by “Foreskin Man” Michael Hess to have the question put to a ballot.

In California in the last year, the anti-circumcision movement has gained enough public momentum to have the question put to a ballot. Under Hess’ proposal, the circumcision of a minor would be a criminal act and be treated as an assault.

Continue reading "Should we force kin to suffer the unkindest cut?" »

Around this time of year, Aborigines are conducting ceremonial business in central Australia, including circumcision initiation rites.

News Ltd reported on Monday that three teenagers had turned up at the Tennant Creek hospital, 500km north of Alice Springs, bleeding badly from circumcision procedures that had gone wrong.

They had been circumcised in a makeshift bush camp just out of town. The boys spent three nights in hospital. It can be revealed here that a fourth teenager presented at Tennant Creek hospital on Sunday night, also with lacerations.

Continue reading "Black rite of passage may be an abuse of kids’ rights" »