Not such an unkind cut, after all
Saturday, August 16th, 2008Wendy Zukerman reports; August 16, 2008
Circumcision is one of the oldest medical practices in the world. From indigenous Australians, ancient Egyptians, to devout Jews and Muslims — boys have undergone it for thousands of years. And until the 1970s it was also common in developed countries. In the 1970s paediatricians in Australia, the US and the UK changed their attitude to circumcision. Routine circumcision for all newborn boys changed from a recommended procedure in hospitals nationwide to an “unnecessary” practice in which the risks outweighed the benefits. Almost 40 years on, this official stance is largely unchanged. As a result it is estimated that between 80 and 90 per cent of boys in Australia are currently not being circumcised. But now, after scientific research showing increased benefits associated with circumcisions, there are signs of a re-think in the scientific community.
