Mom: A Day Of Vindication

Posting Date: 03/01/1999

Shannon: Hearing about the new pediatric society statement - well, this is like a day of vindication for me.

Dr. Dean: That?s terrific, tell me about it.

Shannon: When my son was born in Idaho 18 years ago, everyone criticized me for not having him circumcised. I felt intimidated and shamed by my family and the hospital staff. They told me I was immature. I felt like their attitude denied his humanity.

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Dr. Dean: Congratulations on taking such a brave stand. You were one of the first, a real pioneer on this issue.

Shannon: My view is that a baby can?t give his consent, and it?s not right for a parent to put him through such a traumatic ordeal. My son is grown today, has never had any problems. He?s said to me, ?Thank you, mom.?

Dr. Dean: You?re choking me up, Shannon. You were more in tune with the issue than I was back then. Once I started looking at the evidence, though, I quickly became convinced that circumcision was unnecessary.

I think mothers should get all the information they can before they let a doctor go snipping off a piece of their child?s anatomy. There?s no proven medical benefit.

And I hope you men are listening. Just because you?re circumcised doesn?t mean your son should be. There?s just no reason to do it and now the nation?s pediatricians are agreeing.

Shannon: My husband agrees with me. He says it?s not like getting a haircut. It?s not something that grows back.

Dr. Dean: You?re right, although there are foreskin restoration techniques. There?s also a surgical procedure for uncircumcising men, although it?s not something I?d generally recommend. The details about it are on the website, healthcentral.com.