Medical benefits defended Circumcision is still strongly supported in some medical circles. Dr. Thomas Wiswell, a professor of pediatrics at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, once opposed the procedure but is now an ardent advocate. These benefits are not disputed, though urinary tract infections and penile cancer are extremely rare. The AAP points out that when the uncircumcised penis is cleaned properly, the risk of infection drops dramatically. The ongoing debate leaves many prospective and new parents confused.
Doctors generally offer information but are careful to stay out of the decision-making process.
Instead, we encourage parents to discuss the benefits and risks of circumcision with their pediatrician, and then make an informed decision about what is in the best interest of their child. Over the years, circumcision has become a deeply rooted cultural tradition. Quite simply, in the United States, the choice often comes down to wanting the son to look like the father. The intensity of this emotional debate puts the nation's most influential group of pediatricians in the hot seat. The AAP's carefully worded policy statement stops short of advising against circumcision altogether.