Out of step: fatal flaws in the latest AAP policy report on neonatal circumcision

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released a policy statement and technical report on circumcision, in both of which the organisation suggests that the health benefits conferred by the surgical removal of the foreskin in infancy definitively outweigh the risks and complications associated...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of medical ethics 2013-07, Vol.39 (7), p.434-441
Main Authors: Svoboda, J Steven, Van Howe, Robert S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amputation
Babies
Bioethics
Children
Children & youth
Childrens rights
Circumcision
Circumcision, Male - adverse effects
Circumcision, Male - methods
Confidentiality/Privacy
Cultural Characteristics
Current controversy
Ethics
Evidence-Based Medicine - standards
Foreskin
Genitalia
Health Policy
HIV
HIV Infections - prevention & control
Human Body
Human Rights
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Informed Consent
Intervention
Male
Male circumcision
Men
Newborns and Minors
Papillomavirus Infections - prevention & control
Parents & parenting
Pediatrics
Penile Neoplasms - prevention & control
Penis
Public health
Societies, Medical
Syphilis - prevention & control
United States
Urinary Tract Infections - prevention & control
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Description
Summary:The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released a policy statement and technical report on circumcision, in both of which the organisation suggests that the health benefits conferred by the surgical removal of the foreskin in infancy definitively outweigh the risks and complications associated with the procedure. While these new documents do not positively recommend neonatal circumcision, they do paradoxically conclude that its purported benefits ‘justify access to this procedure for families who choose it,’ claiming that whenever and for whatever reason it is performed, it should be covered by government health insurance. The policy statement and technical report suffer from several troubling deficiencies, ultimately undermining their credibility. These deficiencies include the exclusion of important topics and discussions, an incomplete and apparently partisan excursion through the medical literature, improper analysis of the available information, poorly documented and often inaccurate presentation of relevant findings, and conclusions that are not supported by the evidence given.
ISSN:0306-6800
1473-4257
DOI:10.1136/medethics-2013-101346