Organization Responses

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has been charged with continuing to betray vulnerable children in its release today of a new policy regarding circumcision.

Although the AAP says that the medical benefits of circumcision are not significant enough to recommend the procedure, their statement leaves wide latitude to continue circumcision for non-medical reasons. This is clearly a violation of medical ethics (physicians are only allowed to perform surgery when medically necessary).

Now that the American Academy of Pediatrics has aligned itself more closely with medical organizations worldwide by not recommending routine male circumcision, the already declining circumcision rate in the U.S. should drop dramatically.

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Affirms that Claimed Medical Benefits Do Not Justify Routine Infant Circumcision; At Last Recognizes the Pain and Stress of Circumcision; Tragically Omits Crucial Information Necessary for Parents to Make an Informed Decision

Children's health advocates lauded the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) today for its refusal to recommend infant circumcision. The AAP policy has now come in line with all of the other medical societies' circumcision policy statements in the English speaking world. This position underscores the idea -- widely accepted around the world -- that circumcision does not specifically contribute to children's health in any way. In countries that do not circumcise, including all of continental Europe, urological health appears to be as good as, or better, than in the United States.

AAP Fumbles Again: Contradicts Itself

Doctors' Group Charged with Dumping Kids' Rights

Pediatric Circumcision Policy Better, But Still Inadequate. - "At last the AAP has admitted that it is both unnecessary and painful. R. Wayne Griffiths, NORM's founder, notes that "now it is clear that the greatest danger to a baby boy's penis is from a doctor's knife."

Responses by various organizations regarding the 1999 AAP statement.