Is circumcision ethical?

[shimei]

Originally Posted by MarkFL

I'm no expert on the matter, but I am thinking sex changes are done voluntarily by adults whereas circumcision is most often done to infants who obviously cannot consent. I disagree with taking a knife to the genitals of a baby for any reason with the exception that it has been determined (by a doctor) there is a medical reason to do so.

Hi Mark,

Do you hold to your ethics even for adults? Just curious about how some regard the Hippocratic oath, "I disagree with taking a knife to the genitals of a baby for any reason with the exception that it has been determined (by a doctor) there is a medical reason to do so."

Children as well as adults are circumcised. In the Old Testament, children were to be circumcised on the 8th day. On the eighth day, the amount of prothrombin present actually is elevated above one-hundred percent of normal—and is the only day in the male’s life in which this will be the case under normal conditions. If surgery is to be performed, day eight is the perfect day to do it. Vitamin K and prothrombin levels are at their peak.

How did they know that back then? Besides the point, no pun intended, most circumcisions are done for religious reasons (not arguing that the sign of circumcision still pertains), but there are certain health benefits.