Circumcision: what should be done?

Hanoch Ben-Yami

Department of Philosophy, Central European University, 9 Nádor Street, Budapest 1051, Hungary. benyamih@ceu.hu

Journal of medical ethics 2013 Jul

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I explain why I think that considerations regarding the opposing rights involved in the practice of circumcision-rights of the individual to bodily integrity and rights of the community to practice its religion-would not help us decide on the desirable policy towards this controversial practice. I then suggest a few measures that are not in conflict with either religious or community rights but that can both reduce the harm that circumcision as currently practiced involves and bring about a change in attitude towards the practice, thus further reducing its frequency. These measures are the compulsory administration of anaesthetics; the banning of the metzitzah b'peh; and having an upper age limit of a few months on non-therapeutic circumcision of minors. I conclude with general considerations on why the steps taken towards the reform of circumcision should be moderate.