Childhood Male Circumcision

A 3-year-old boy has been referred to the urology clinic for consideration for circumcision under general anesthetic. Both parents are practicing Muslims and want him to be circumcised for religious reasons. He was not circumcised at birth in accordance with custom because he had been in special care due to complications from congenital heart disease. Although the boy is now thriving, due to his underlying condition a general anesthetic would present a heightened risk. As there are no clinical indications for circumcision, the urologist is uncertain about whether to proceed, despite the parents’ insistence that circumcision is performed.

• Is neonatal circumcision for religious or social reasons ethically and legally appropriate?
• Do the increased risks of circumcision being performed in the community justify NHS provision of the procedure even if it is not clinically indicated?

Apply Theory (Specific Professional Healthcare Competencies + Clinical Medical Ethical Principles) to Practice in order to provide Optimal Patient-Centered Care (OPCC)

Source – Ethics Case Studies from Clinical Ethics and Law (Second Edition), Carolyn Johnston Penelope Bradbury