The Ethics of Circumcision
Our Position
AntiCirc envisions a world where children are free from medically unnecessary surgeries carried out on them without their consent in the name of culture, religion, profit, parental preference or the poorly educated.
There are no ethical arguments to support the removal of normal body parts from children who cannot consent.
While parents have the right to consent to medically necessary treatment for their children, bioethical principles limit this right to cases where the child's life or health are at risk.
The foreskin is a normal, healthy body part that protects the penis and contributes to sexual pleasure. "Routine" circumcision does not treat any disease; therefore, it is unethical to circumcise babies and children.
Parents' Responsibilities vs. Children's Rights
In health care decisions, respect for the patient's right to self-determination implies that he or she has the capacity to make an informed decision and act voluntarily. Because children have no legal capacity to freely and voluntarily consent, the right to decide is given to a "proxy" (or substitute) decision maker — usually a parent. However, a parent's right to consent to the child's medical care or procedures is limited to cases where the intervention is necessary to save the life or the health of the child. "Routine" circumcision is not one of these cases.
Healthcare Provider's Responsibilities
Infant circumcision violates all four of the universally accepted bioethical principles [36]:
Non-maleficence
Do no harm
The principle of non-maleficence requires that medical practitioners not intentionally cause a needless injury to the patient. Childhood circumcision involves the permanent surgical removal of healthy, protective, erogenous tissue from a child, and is therefore a needless injury.
Childhood circumcision violates the principle of non-maleficence.
Beneficence
The act of doing good
The principle of beneficence requires that health care professionals provide a benefit to a patient. Because routine childhood circumcision provides no benefit to the child, removes a normal body part, and exposes him to unnecessary risk, trauma and pain.
It violates the bioethical principle of beneficence.
Justice
Fairness and equal protection
In the United States, girls of all ages are protected by law from all medically unnecessary genital surgeries. Boys are entitled to the same legal protection. There is no acceptable rationale for a distinction in law between female and male genital modification.
Circumcising a baby boy violates the principle of justice.
Autonomy
Right to self-determination
The bioethical principle of autonomy invests every person with the right to make decisions regarding his or her own body. Our Declaration of Independence states that we are 'endowed with certain unalienable rights,' including self-determination.
Infant circumcision violates the principle of autonomy.
What is the Intactivist Movement?
We prefer the terms "intactivism" or "intactivist movement." The intactivist movement promotes the right of boys – and all persons – to be free from forced, medically unnecessary surgery on their genitals. We do not oppose circumcision, so long the person being circumcised has the legal age and the cognitive capacity to make an informed decision.
Opposition to circumcision has always existed, but it has remained in the shadows too long because genitals and sex were taboo subjects in our society. The intactivist movement continues to gain momentum, as many circumcised men and regretful parents speak out in an effort to protect future generations.
Intact America is the largest formally organized expression of the intactivist movement, and is funded solely by tax-deductible donations.
Supporting Organizations
Attorneys for the Rights of the Child
Compelling reasons exist for strong concern among attorneys about the damage caused by circumcision, including pain, psychological harm, and loss of sexual function.
Doctors Opposing Circumcision
An organization of physicians opposed to non-therapeutic neonatal circumcision, with members in 50 States and on six continents.
Men Do Complain
There is a myth that men do not mind being circumcised. Men circumcised as children often complain about their condition and its consequences.
Saving Our Sons
Dedicated to educating parents about the harms of circumcision and protecting future generations from unnecessary genital surgery.
Survey of Circumcision Harm
Documenting the physical and psychological harm caused by circumcision through comprehensive surveys and research.
Intact News
Non-therapeutic genital cutting has significant physical and psychological consequences and has no proven benefits.
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