ICGI calls upon the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to issue new warnings to parents about the harms of neonatal circumcision follwoing a $2.3 million lawsuit settlement awarded Friday to a Georgia boy who lost his glans from a routine circumcision in 2006.

“Newborn boys are harmed and maimed every day from unnecessary circumcision. Some will fall victim to a surgical mishap like this Georgia boy, others will contract the deadly “super-bug” MRSA, some will hemorrhage, all will experience sexual loss, and about 120 infants will die every year. Parents need to know that the complication rate is much higher than they are being lead to believe.” says Dan Bollinger, Executive Director of ICGI. “This case was for damages from the ‘botched’ circumcsion where one-third of his glans was accidently removed. ICGI believes that the boy (and every other boy) should be awarded damages for the removal of their foreskins, too. The foreskin is a protective part of the penis having four-times the sensitivity of the glans.”

This is part of a larger issue. A small group of physicians are working overtime to substantiate their claim that circumcision is beneficial, while other physicians and the public ignore the daily screams from 3,000 boys being subjected to an unnecessary and painful surgery.

Recent headlines and statements from the CDC and AAP officials have focused on studies out of Africa on adult males that report reductions in HIV and some STDs from circumcision. “Taking studies out of Africa and applying them to American newborn boys is fraught with problems,” says John Travis, MD, medical advisor for ICGI. “America has the highest rate of neonatal medical circumcision AND the highest rate of HIV and STDs in the industrialized world. Clearly, circumcision has not worked here. It is socially irresponsible to suggest to Americans that circumcision prevents HIV and STDs. This is the wrong message to send.”

“It is unethical to subject newborns to the immediate risks of circumcision for a potential benefit, if any, 15-20 years from now, when better prevention methods for HIV and STDs already exist,” concludes Bollinger.