Quote:
Originally Posted by troutman
blankall - HIV infection risk is really related to Africans, and not very relevant in North America?
You seem to get your information from one camp, while there is another camp that is recommending the opposite. I'm not sure there is enough research yet for us to be confident in either position so far.
Anti-camp:
http://www.circumcision.org/studies.htm
Pro-camp:
http://www.circinfo.net/ |
There are over 3000 new HIV infections in Canada every year. On top of that you have deaths caused by other STIs like HPV.
Yes, circumcision comes with its risks. However, holding out a single case as a reason to ban circumcision is the same logic the anti-vaccination crowd follows. You hold out the tragic, yet extremely rare, case of harm as an example of the norm. Meanwhile the hundreds of HIV cases it prevents every year don't create the same shocking headlines.
The CDC and AMA are now stating that the health benefits outweigh the risks. The Canadian Pediatrics Society recently reversed their position recommending against it towards an entirely balanced approach:
http://www.cps.ca/documents/position/circumcision
Essentially, the health benefits are clear, but "ethics" are a consideration which prevents these organizations from recommending it across the board.