Pain pathways as well as the cortical and subcortical centers necessary for pain perception are well developed by the third trimester. Responses to painful stimuli have been documented in neonates of all viable gestational ages. Newborn babies have that much more feelings, more sensitivity, and are more vulnerable to pain than older children. The evidence offered is that in the ritual Jewish circumcision, the infant, who is given an alcohol teat during surgery, cries little and almost immediately goes to sleep. That argument shows an ignorance of the effects of alcohol on infants and fails to acknowledge that 'sleep' may be a response to pain.
Some babies scream frantically while being circumcised.
This absence of crying has led many parents, doctors and others to believe that the operation did not hurt him. I know that the circumcisions I have done, without exception, have been painful for the baby. But my experience in doing it and observing the baby's reactions tell me otherwise. It's pure and simple torture. I've videotaped circumcisions for teaching purposes, and no one, especially the doctor, is aware of the pain until he sees the baby's reaction on tape.