Nurses on the Frontline: Exposing the Brutal Reality of Circumcision

The screams of newborns during circumcision are not just cries—they’re alarms. Alarms that something is profoundly wrong with a practice many blindly accept as routine.

These sounds echo in the minds of nurses long after the procedure is over, serving as a brutal reminder that they are often unwilling participants in an act of violence against defenseless infants.

The days of silent complicity are over. Nurses are fed up with this outdated, barbaric ritual that has no place in modern medicine. Circumcision is not just a minor snip; it’s a horrific assault on the bodily autonomy of infants, and it’s high time we confront this head-on.

The Raw Truth Nurses Witness

Let’s strip away the niceties—circumcision is a betrayal of the “do no harm” oath that every healthcare professional takes. Nurses, more than anyone, are acutely aware of this. They’re the ones who have to hold down these tiny, squirming bodies, listen to their gut-wrenching screams, and watch as blood flows from an unnecessary wound.

This isn’t about hygiene, tradition, or religious practice; it’s about mutilating a child who has no voice, no way to fight back.

The CDC reports a decline in circumcision rates, from 64.5% in 1981 to 58.3% in 2010, but that’s cold comfort. Every single circumcision is one too many. One more child traumatized, one more nurse forced to participate in something that defies the very essence of their role as caregivers.

The decline in circumcision rates might seem like progress on paper, but it means little to the nurses who are still witnessing this atrocity on a daily basis. They’re the ones dealing with the immediate aftermath—the crying infants, the concerned parents, and their own conflicted emotions. Circumcision is a practice steeped in outdated traditions that have no place in modern society. It’s time to call it what it is: a barbaric, unnecessary procedure that violates the most basic human rights.

The Emotional Toll on Nurses

Let’s not mince words—circumcision is torture. It’s a legal form of child abuse, sanctioned by society under the guise of tradition or health. Nurses who are forced to witness or participate in this procedure are left scarred by the experience. The emotional toll is staggering. These are healthcare providers who have dedicated their lives to healing, to helping, to making a difference. Yet, they’re being asked to participate in something that is inherently harmful, something that causes unnecessary pain and suffering.

The cognitive dissonance this creates is immense. How can you reconcile your role as a healer with the reality that you’re contributing to an infant’s first experience of pain? The answer is, you can’t. And that’s why more and more nurses are speaking out, refusing to stay silent any longer. They’re advocating for change, for an end to this archaic practice that has no place in a society that claims to care about human rights.

Firsthand Accounts: The Turning Point

Nurses like Marilyn Fayre Milos didn’t just watch this horror unfold—they took action.

When Milos first witnessed a circumcision, her world flipped upside down. The baby’s screams, the sight of a tiny body writhing in pain—it was a gut punch that she couldn’t ignore. When the doctor casually remarked, “There’s no medical reason for this,” it was the final straw. That was the moment Milos decided to dedicate her life to fighting this atrocity. She founded the National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers (NOCIRC), becoming a relentless advocate for ending this madness. Milos isn’t just a voice in the wilderness; she’s a force of nature, rallying others to the cause and refusing to back down.

Then there’s Jessica, a NICU nurse who saw firsthand how circumcision destroys more than just flesh—it shatters psyches.

She cared for a toddler who developed a paralyzing fear of medical procedures after a botched circumcision. This child was scarred for life, both physically and emotionally, all for a procedure that should have died out decades ago. Jessica’s experience is not unique; countless nurses across the country have witnessed similar horrors. They’re stepping up, speaking out, and refusing to be complicit in this brutal practice any longer.

Psychological Scars and the Drive for Advocacy

The psychological scars left by circumcision are as real and enduring as the physical ones. Nurses like Jessica have seen it firsthand—toddlers, older children, even adults who have been left traumatized by this unnecessary procedure. It’s a trauma that doesn’t go away, and it’s one that could have been completely avoided. These experiences fuel the fight against circumcision, driving nurses to advocate for the rights of these children, to ensure that no one else has to endure the pain and suffering that comes with this outdated practice.

But the fight doesn’t end with individual advocacy. It extends into the very fabric of our healthcare system, where circumcision has been normalized to the point of absurdity. Nurses are calling out this hypocrisy, challenging the status quo, and demanding that we rethink how we approach infant care. The days of blindly following tradition are over. It’s time to put the focus back where it belongs—on the well-being of the child.

The Fight for a Child’s Right to Bodily Integrity

This isn’t just about ending circumcision—it’s about ensuring that every child has the right to grow up without unnecessary pain, without having parts of their body removed without their consent. It’s about respecting the autonomy and dignity of every human being, no matter how small. And it’s nurses who are leading the charge, who are standing up for these rights, who are saying, “No more.”

Nurses aren’t just passive observers—they’re at the forefront of this battle. Armed with facts, backed by organizations like Intact America, they’re tearing down the walls of ignorance that have kept circumcision alive. This isn’t just another medical procedure; it’s a human rights violation, plain and simple.

Intact America is giving nurses the tools they need to stand up and say, “Enough is enough.”

The fight for a child’s right to bodily integrity is about more than just circumcision. It’s about challenging the very foundations of how we treat our youngest and most vulnerable members of society. It’s about demanding that we do better, that we protect these children from harm, that we respect their rights and their dignity. This is a fight that nurses are uniquely positioned to lead, and they’re not backing down.

Informed Consent or Get Out

Informed consent is the cornerstone of ethical medical practice, and it’s one that is being blatantly ignored when it comes to circumcision. Parents are often given incomplete information, if any at all, about the risks and long-term consequences of the procedure. Nurses are fighting to change that. They’re advocating for hospitals to reclassify circumcision as an elective procedure, one that requires explicit, well-informed consent from parents. No more rubber-stamping this archaic practice—if circumcision is going to happen, it needs to be a decision made with full awareness of what’s at stake.

But informed consent isn’t just about making sure parents have all the information they need—it’s about challenging the very idea that circumcision should be offered at all. Nurses are pushing back against the notion that circumcision is a routine procedure, something that can be done without a second thought. They’re demanding that hospitals stop offering circumcision as an automatic option, that they start treating it like the elective, unnecessary procedure that it is.

Parents deserve the full picture—the risks, the psychological trauma, and the reality that most medical bodies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, don’t recommend it. Nurses are stepping up to provide that information, to make sure parents understand what they’re signing up for, and to advocate for the rights of the children who can’t speak for themselves.

The Role of Nurses in This Fight

Nurses are on the frontlines of this battle, and they’re not backing down. They’re refusing to be complicit in a practice that they know is wrong, that they know causes unnecessary harm. They’re speaking out, advocating for change, and demanding that we do better by our children. This isn’t just about circumcision—it’s about standing up for what’s right, about protecting the most vulnerable members of our society, about ensuring that every child has the right to grow up without unnecessary pain or trauma.

Nurses are uniquely positioned to lead this fight. They’re the ones who see the immediate effects of circumcision, who deal with the aftermath, who witness the pain and suffering that this procedure causes. They’re the ones who have the knowledge, the experience, and the passion to make a difference. And they’re not going to stop until circumcision is a thing of the past.

The Impact of Intact America

Organizations like Intact America are playing a crucial role in this fight. They’re providing the resources, the support, and the platform that nurses need to speak out, to advocate for change, to challenge the status quo. Intact America is giving nurses the tools they need to make a difference, to stand up for what’s right, to protect the rights of infants and children.

“Circumcision is a violation of the human rights of the child.”

— Intact America

This isn’t just about ending circumcision—it’s about creating a world where every child is treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. It’s about ensuring that every child has the right to grow up without unnecessary pain, without having parts of their body removed without their consent. It’s about respecting the autonomy and dignity of every human being, no matter how small. And it’s nurses who are leading the charge, who are standing up for these rights, who are saying, “No more.”

Conclusion

Nurses are on the frontlines of a critical movement against the outdated and harmful practice of circumcision. Their firsthand experiences, combined with compelling statistics and ethical arguments, underscore the urgent need for change. Organizations like Intact America are supporting these healthcare professionals in advocating for the rights of newborns to bodily integrity. As the fight against non-consensual circumcision gains momentum, it’s clear that the tide is turning. The collective voices of nurses and advocates are pushing society towards a future where every child’s right to a whole, unaltered body is respected and protected.

FAQs

Q: Why are nurses speaking out against circumcision?

A: Nurses oppose circumcision because it contradicts the ethical principle of “do no harm” and is often performed without medical necessity, causing unnecessary pain and trauma to newborns.

Q: Is circumcision medically necessary?

A: Most medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, do not recommend routine circumcision due to insufficient health benefits compared to the risks.

Q: How does circumcision impact newborns emotionally and physically?

A: Circumcision can lead to immediate physical pain and long-term psychological trauma, as observed by many nurses and documented in various medical studies.

Q: What is the role of informed consent in circumcision?

A: Informed consent is crucial, as parents must fully understand the risks, benefits, and ethical considerations before making a decision about circumcision for their child.

Q: How can nurses advocate for an end to routine circumcision?

A: Nurses can educate parents, push for policy changes, join advocacy groups like Intact America, and share their experiences to raise awareness about the harms of circumcision.