Doctors have a duty to protect their patients’ health, uphold their autonomy, and ensure that every decision is rooted in sound evidence. Yet, when it comes to circumcision, many continue to perform this controversial procedure without a second thought. Neonatal circumcision, in particular, is routinely performed in hospitals as if it’s a harmless, automatic part of a child’s birth experience. But the reality is far more complex—and far more disturbing.
Circumcision, especially when done to infants who cannot give consent, raises serious ethical questions that many medical professionals are either ignoring or dismissing. It’s time to rip the band-aid off this practice and start asking the hard questions. Why are doctors performing this procedure without a solid medical justification? Why is bodily autonomy cast aside in the name of tradition, religion, or convenience? It’s time for doctors to confront the uncomfortable truth: neonatal circumcision is not just outdated—it’s an ethically problematic procedure that’s being carried out in hospitals across the country.
The Medical Justification: Or Lack Thereof
For decades, doctors have been sold the narrative that circumcision is a medically necessary procedure. It’s supposed to prevent infections, reduce the risk of diseases, and improve hygiene. But let’s be real—this is all a bunch of overblown nonsense. The supposed health benefits are shaky at best, and the idea that circumcision is a “must-do” for newborns is little more than a relic of outdated practices that should have been left behind in the past century.
Let’s be honest here—if circumcision were truly a miracle procedure, wouldn’t it be universally recommended by all medical professionals? Instead, the truth is that many doctors still perform circumcision without any solid, peer-reviewed medical evidence to support it. There is no consensus on whether circumcision is necessary or even beneficial for the vast majority of healthy newborn males. So, why is it still being performed routinely in hospitals? It’s a practice steeped in cultural and religious tradition, not medical necessity.
The Ethical Dilemma: A Violation of Bodily Autonomy
Here’s the thing that no one wants to talk about: circumcision is a permanent, irreversible procedure that alters the body of a defenseless infant. The child cannot consent. They don’t have a say. They don’t even know what’s happening to them. And yet, doctors routinely perform this procedure, pushing it through as a “standard practice.”
The reality is that infant circumcision is a blatant violation of bodily autonomy. It’s one thing when an adult makes a decision for themselves, but a newborn has no voice. So why is it acceptable to make a permanent decision about someone’s body before they have any ability to comprehend what’s going on? The ethics behind this practice are deeply flawed. It’s time to ask: Who gave anyone the right to alter a child’s body in such a profound way without their consent?
Doctors may point to parents’ wishes, but this is not about a parent’s right to impose their will. It’s about the child’s right to exist in their own body without someone else making irreversible decisions for them. No one should be given the power to perform a procedure that permanently alters someone’s body just because of tradition or cultural pressures.
The Psychological Toll: More Than Just a Physical Procedure
It’s not just about the body. The emotional and psychological impact of circumcision is often ignored. It’s easy to brush it off, especially because babies don’t remember the procedure. But here’s the cold, hard truth: the effects can last a lifetime.
Many men who were circumcised as infants experience feelings of regret, loss, and disconnection from their bodies. They can feel violated, betrayed, and confused about their own physicality. These aren’t just feelings from a small group of outliers—this is a significant issue for many people who have experienced circumcision without their consent.
This isn’t just a matter of hygiene or cultural conformity—it’s a question of how we respect and value a person’s body. Infants cannot make the decision for themselves, but doctors have the power to either uphold the child’s bodily integrity or strip it away. It’s time to stop pretending that circumcision doesn’t have emotional and psychological consequences. It does. And it’s high time the medical community took responsibility for that.
Informed Consent: A Joke in This Case
Let’s talk about consent for a moment. In the vast majority of cases, parents are not adequately informed about the risks or the ethical implications of circumcision. Instead, they’re often given the procedure as a “standard” option—something they just assume is necessary. But this is not informed consent. This is consent under duress, influenced by social norms, outdated medical recommendations, and religious pressures.
Doctors have a responsibility to make sure that parents understand what they’re agreeing to. Yet, the reality is that many parents have no idea what circumcision entails—what it risks, what it removes, and what it could mean for their child down the road. Instead of presenting circumcision as a default, doctors should be educating parents about the lack of solid evidence supporting its benefits, the ethical issues it raises, and the fact that it’s an irreversible procedure. Only when parents are fully informed and given the freedom to make a decision based on facts should they be asked to consent.
This isn’t just a “well, everyone’s doing it” situation. It’s about respecting the autonomy of the child and acknowledging that, unless there’s a clear, medical reason, no one has the right to alter their body.
Time to Stop the Default Practice
Circumcision should not be the default procedure for newborns. It should not be the first thing doctors suggest to parents. It’s time to stop blindly following tradition and start making decisions based on ethics, science, and respect for the individual. Every parent should be given the facts, and every doctor should ask themselves: Is this really the right thing to do for this child?
Doctors are supposed to stand up for their patients’ rights and advocate for what’s best for them. It’s time for the medical community to stop hiding behind cultural traditions and outdated practices and start embracing a more informed, ethical approach. Circumcision should be an informed choice, not an automatic procedure.
The question is not whether circumcision should be done; the question is whether it’s time for the medical profession to stop performing it routinely and start putting the rights and well-being of the child first. The time for change is long overdue.
The Growing Movement: Wake Up, Doctors
The movement to end routine infant circumcision is gaining momentum, and it’s time for doctors to catch up. This is no longer about blind tradition—it’s about respecting the bodily autonomy of every child and putting an end to outdated medical practices.
Doctors must question their role in perpetuating this practice. The time to take a stand against routine circumcision is now. It’s time to stop performing it without questioning its necessity, its consequences, and its ethical implications. The future of medicine is about respecting the rights of every individual, and that starts with refusing to make permanent decisions for those who cannot consent.
It’s time to rethink circumcision—not just as a practice but as an ethical obligation to do better. Enough is enough.
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