Sequoia32 wrote:
TollandRCR wrote:
Neither I nor my wife provided written consent for circumcision of our sons. I don't recall even being asked orally. I was there for the second birth and was so fully aware that the procedure was being done that I had the typical male reaction: I almost fainted. It is so standard and has so little risk (apart from rare reactions to Lidocaine) that I suppose back in the 1970s nobody thought to ask. It's one of those funny elective procedures that insurance companies treat as medically necessary procedures.
Your wife probably discussed it with her OB during prenatal visits and may have signed a consent then. It used to be the OB did the circ. Most places I've worked the last 15 years or so have switched to the pedi doing it. My (former) employer not only requires written consent, we screen for family history of bleeding disorders on the form.
As far as risk, I have seen many botched jobs and have had to run for the Surgicel to stop the bleeding. Then, there is always the risk of infection.
There doesn't seem to be a problem with private insurance paying for it, but MediCal won't, so at my (former) hospital none of the Pedis will do MediCal kids. One of our very wonderful Neonatalogists does the MediCal kids in between saving baby lives...
This was an OB/GYN, and it was done in the Lamaze delivery room, seemingly in the first few minutes after delivery. If my wife signed a form in 1970, she never mentioned it to me. I would not have objected. My son did contract an infection at two weeks, but that was in his salivary gland (same gland in which I recently had an infection).
I do know of cases of teenage and adult circumcisions that have been real problems for the patients. I suppose there was a good medical reason for doing them, however. I once was invited to a Bris but did not enjoy the experience.
I think that's always been the main reason that I have not converted to Reform Judaism and have instead to stick with its paler counterpart, Unitarianism. Sometimes the two congregations trade minister for rabbi, so maybe I get the best of both worlds. (And I enjoy the Congregationalists for the music and liturgical art form, which are missing from most Unitarian services, except in Kings Chapel, Boston, where the liturgy is Anglican.)