The Committee suggested that nonessential treatments which could be deferred without substantial risk should be postponed until the individual's consent can be obtained. The Committee's statement regarding unnecessary surgical procedures in the case of unconsenting minors seems to conflict with the AAP's position that routine neonatal circumcision, though not medically justified, is a valid elective procedure that can be performed by its physician members in response to the simple, stated, aesthetic preference of parents. The human rights issue in regard to circumcision will be thoroughly explored at the Fourth International Symposium on Sexual Mutilations which will be held in August, in Lausanne, Switzerland. Worldwide will be presented by fellow humanist James W. Prescott. And, for the first time ever, the practice of routine circumcision in the United States will be specifically targeted.
Humanists everywhere decry female genital mutilation, and rightly so.
It is time to do the same with regard to the practice of genital surgery on infants and boys. All humanists everywhere are encouraged to support the Montagu resolution and other such efforts to end the practice of unnecessary genital surgery on infants and minors, male and female. This article is copyrighted. The author will be in attendance at the Symposium on Sexual Mutilations. A follow-up article is planned subsequent to that event.