F-You Back AAP

This year we were lucky enough to witness many nations around the world (even an attempt by the beautiful State of California) to advise a ban on forced genital cutting of healthy baby boys while the US (as usual) decides to, in so many words, say f - ‘em.



f-you back AAP



 Just three days ago, the AAP released their newest statement regarding circumcision which is a complete embarrassment. Devoid of grounded, sound medical evidence, the AAP suggests that the benefits of amputating a part of a newborns penis is more beneficial then not.

“I’m sorry son, but your penis is completely wack.”



wiggity-wiggity wack

 

By wack, the AAP means the way you were born is too prone to HIV and an occasional UTI to be left alone. They determined this by 3 shoddy clinical trials carried out in Africa which supposedly prove that cutting babies in infancy will provide a 60 percent reduction in female to male heterosexual transmission of HIV.

Never mind the substantial amount of peer-reviewed published papers published since then (2007) that debunk these claims. Argh.

Don’t believe me – check them out yourself:

Dowsett GW, Couch M. Male circumcision and HIV prevention: is there really enough of the right kind of evidence? Reprod Health Matters 2007; 15(29):33-44.

Green LW, McAllister RG, Peterson KW, Travis JW. Male circumcision is not the HIV vaccine we have been waiting for! Future HIV Therapy 2008; 2(3):193-199.

Sidler D, Smith J, Rode H. Neonatal circumcision does not reduce HIV/AIDS infection rates. S Afr Med J 2008; 98(10): 762-766.

Myers A, Myers J. Rolling out male circumcision as a mass HIV/AIDS intervention seems neither justified nor practicable. South Afr Med J 2008:98(10):781-782.

Van Howe, Storms MS. How the circumcision solution in Africa will increase HIV infections. Jounral of Public Health in Africa 2011; 2:e4 doi:10.4081/jphia.2011.e4

Boyle GJ, Hill G. Sub-Saharan African randomized clinical trials into male circumcision and HIV transmission: Methodological, ethical and legal concerns. J Law Med (Melbourne) 2011; 19: 316-334.

In fact, recent evidence illustrates high rates of HIV infection among circumcised men in numerous populations as compared to men who are lucky enough to have kept their penises un-botched.

Even if the research was valid, that boys are born inherently dysfunctional AND must be corrected at birth – the AAP conveniently dismisses any ethical questions regarding circumcision.

Hmm, ethics - I know I've heard of that before

There is absolutely no mention to a child’s right to bodily integrity which is established in both domestic and international human rights law. Newborn babies are seen as possession of the parents.

Hello people!! Circumcision is a non-therapeutic surgical operation on healthy babies that does not diagnosis nor is a treatment of any respect of the word – how are we still allowing parental consent for a procedure that involuntary amputates a part of the male body?!

Ok, enough pissing and moaning about it -

Luckily, the internet is a useful tool for social transformation. I urge you to spread the word and learn more!

Here is the email addresses of the 2012 AAP Task Force on Circumcision and AAP Board of Directors* – contact them!

 

sblank@health.nyc.gov, michael.brady@nationwidechildrens.org, ebuerk@aap.org, wcarlo@peds.uab.edu, diek@u.washington.edu, andrew.freedman@cshs.org, maxwell@email.chop.edu, swegner@ncaccesscare.org, clebaron@cdc.gov, lesley.atwood@allina.com, scraigo@tuftsmedicalcenter.org, Susan@susanflinn.com, esther_janowsky@unc.edu, ezimmerman@aap.org, robert-block@ouhsc.edu, Thomas_McInerny@urmc.rochester.edu, marion.burton@uscmed.sc.edu, CAllen@aap.org, dlaraque@maimonidesmed.org, shassink@aap.net, ferushton@embarqmail.com, mbull@iupui.edu, mseverson@aap.org, KMatthews@aap.org, kyasuda@uw.edu, mabbottmd@aol.com, sgoza@aap.net
 

“A rational and moral person, not entrenched in this cultural practice or clouded by religion, can very easily see that cutting genitals of children, especially when children die or are permanently and irreparably damaged, isn’t acceptable no matter how valued the tradition and history.”

-Barrel of Oranges

Here is a list of other sites to learn more about the issue surrounding circumcision in the United States and around the world:

• Attorneys For the Rights of the Child
• Austalasia Intactivists
• Barrel of Oranges
• Beyond the Bris
• Botched Circumcision Lawyer
• Choose Intact
• Circumcision Diaries
• Circumcision Information Resource Pages
• Circumcision Insanity
• Circumcision Resource Center
• Circumstitions
• Doctors Opposing Circumcision
• Far Reach
• InfoCirc
• Intact America
• Integrity X Intactivism
• Jews Against Circumcision
• Legalize Foreskin
• Life Intact
• Male Circumcision & HIV
• Male Circumcision & HIV
• Men Do Complain
• Mind Of Own
• Moralogous
• Mothers Against Circumcision
• NoCIRC
• Peaceful Parenting
• Restoring Tally
• Saving Sons
• Should I Circumcise?
• The Angry Intactivist
• The WHOLE Network
• Uncutting

More AAP Circumcision Policy Statement Reading and Responses:
*Thanks Dr Momma -  http://www.drmomma.org/2012/08/aap-circumcision-policy-statement.html 

AAP 2012 Policy Statement Excerpt: http://www.facebook.com/notes/saving-our-sons/aap-policy-statement-on-infant-circumcision-sept-1-2012/476789462340180

AAP Circumcision Policy Statement: A Critique: http://www.drmomma.org/2012/08/aap-circumcision-policy-statement.html

Children's Health & Human Rights Partnership Condemns New AAP Policy Statement: http://chhrp.org/index.php/news/childrens-health-human-rights-partnership-condemns-new-aap-policy-statement/

Doctors Opposing Circumcision Commentary on AAP Policy Statement: http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/pdf/2012-08-26A_Commentary.pdfCircumcision Resource Center Response to AAP Policy Statement:
http://www.circumcision.org/aap.htm

Circumstition's Annotated AAP Policy Statement: http://www.circumstitions.com/Docs/aap-12-anno.pdf

ARC Law Response: http://arclaw.org/resources/press-releases/attorneys-rights-child-condemns-american-academy-pediatrics-hiding-truth-pu

Intact America Response: http://www.intactamerica.org/pr_082212

The Bias of the AAP: http://www.udonet.com/circumcision/vincent/bias_of_the_aap.html

My thoughts on the AAP Circumcision Policy Statement and What I've Learned from a Decade of Intactivism: http://www.drmomma.org/2012/08/the-aap-2012-circumcision-policy.html

Money Over Oath: Today We Grieve: http://www.ourmuddyboots.com/?p=5295

Around the Bush and Closer to Nowhere: http://joseph4gi.blogspot.jp/2012/08/aap-around-bush-and-closer-to-nowhere.html

AAP: Breastfeeding Advocates or Pro-Circumcision Profiteers? http://lifesasaladbar.blogspot.com/2012/08/aap-breastfeeding-advocates-or-pro.html

I don't need the AAP to know: http://www.attachedparentsatwork.com/EffYouAAP.html

Where logic and ethics go to die: http://mamaraw.com/2012/08/24/where-logic-ethics-go-to-die/

To the AAP Task Force on Circumcision: http://intacthouston.wordpress.com/2012/08/27/to-the-aap-task-force-on-circumcision/

AAP / Circumcision Graphics: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.476778032341323.112615.166998263319303&type=1

AAP Protest Planning: http://www.facebook.com/events/339781256109134/permalink/340627516024508/

Join in the conversation: www.Facebook.com/SavingOurSons

Commentary on American Academy of Pediatrics 2012 Circumcision Policy Statement. http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/pdf/2012-08-22_PublicNotice.pdf