'Intactivists' to San Francisco: Ban circumcision

[Renew Deal]

(CNN) -- In the California city that banned Happy Meal toys,outlawed sitting on sidewalks during daylight hours and fined residents for not sorting garbage into recycling, compost and trash, Lloyd Schofield wants to add a new law to the books in San Francisco: A ban on all male circumcisions.

Those who violate the ban could be jailed (not more than one year) or fined (not more than $1,000), under his proposal. Circumcisions even for religious reasons would not be allowed. At this point, Schofield's proposal is an idea that would have to clear several hurdles to be considered.

Schofield and like-minded advocates who call themselves "intactivists" seek to make it "unlawful to circumcise, excise, cut, or mutilate the whole or any part of the foreskin, testicles, or penis" of anyone 17 or younger in San Francisco.
<snip>

While nationally the circumcision rate has remained steady, the most dramatic decline occurred in the West, where it fell from 64 percent in 1974 to 37 percent in 1999. Earlier this year, there were unconfirmed estimates that the circumcision rate had fallen to fewer than half for boys born in U.S. hospitals, The New York Times reported last summer, citing a federal report at the International AIDS Conference.

The American Academy of Pediatrics task force on circumcision has been reviewing recent research before it issues an official new position on the issue, probably next year, one panel member said.
<snip>

"In the past, we've said newborn circumcision has benefits and risks," said Dr. Douglas Diekema, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington. "Given the fact that neither the risks nor benefits are particularly compelling, this is a decision to be made by parents."

The American Academy of Pediatrics currently holds that there is evidence of circumcision's potential benefits, but not enough to recommend routine newborn circumcisions.
<snip>

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/19/male.circumcision.sf/index.html?hpt=C2

[leftstreet]

1. I'd give my left testicle if Sarah Palin would start an affair with Hugo Chavez

:banghead:

[EFerrari]

2. Hush your mouth!

:rofl:

[leftstreet]

3. ..

:-)

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[subterranean]

5. This was discussed here exhaustively about a week ago.

Here's the thread if anyone wants to revisit it:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4611604

Of course, it always takes a little longer for news to reach CNN.

[Renew Deal]

6. There are some interesting statistics in this version of the story

I think people will appreciate the additional information.

[subterranean]

7. Point taken.

The article does go into more depth about circumcision trends and the controversy about it in America.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

8. If the "additional information" -

is as accurate as their assertation that San Francisco "banned the Happy meal", thern I would suggest it be checked for accuracy.