I don't believe this for a second. I swear, there have been more ridiculous rumors about the health care system than alligators in the subway.

Mandatory sterilization, mandatory euthanasia, mandatory abortions, mandatory this, mandatory that.

It's all baloney.

Japan’s Ministry of Health believes its plan will help control health care costs for its aging population, most of whom receive health care from either public or employment-related services. By law, men’s waists can’t be larger than 33.5 inches, and women’s midsections can’t exceed 35.4 inches.

“They’d never get away with that” in the United States, said Dr. Keith Ayoob of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. “I’m sure the intent is to get a healthier society, but I’m not sure this is the best way to go.”

Skinback, relax. Weighing passengers in Japan does not lead to mandatory circumcision in the United States. There is zero chance of that happening.

It's all right wing hysterical BS.

Your first link has had the article removed. Your second and third links have articles that are a year old and only contemplated something supposedly being considered two years earlier by CDC, which did not come to pass. Your fourth and fifth links are also dead.

Your last link is the actual article referred to by the other two, about a two-day consultation that happened over three years ago, where CDC looked at the potential role of circumcision in preventing the spread of HIV; the article nowhere mentions remotely the possibility of proposing mandatory circumcision: "Potential activities under consideration, based on discussion at the April 2007 consultation, include referral of uncircumcised men who engage in unprotected penile-vaginal sex and have behavioral risk for HIV acquisition (e.g., multiple partners and prior STDs) to comprehensive HIV-prevention services, as well as education about and access to voluntary MC, HIV testing, risk-reduction counseling, and STD diagnosis and treatment."

Your logic is thin, weak, and wrong.

Required Circumcision for All Baby Boys Born in the United States?
By Beth Shaw

Public health officials are considering promoting required circumcision for all baby boys born in the United States. Officials hope that taking this action will help slow down the spread of H.I.V. and AIDS. The proposal that circumcision will be required in the United States has already generated controversy.

There is scientific evidence that circumcision can lead to a reduction in the risk of males contracting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. AIDS has been at epidemic levels in Africa and studies show that African men who have been circumcised reduce their risk of getting AIDS by half. The clinical trials performed in Kenya, South Africa and Uganda focused on heterosexual males who were at risk from getting HIV from infected female sexual partners. The studies showed they were 60% less likely to become infected with AIDS if they had been circumcised. Circumcision did not seem to have an impact on the likelihood of homosexual men contracting the disease.

As a result, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States is considering a proposal that all newborn baby boys in the United States should be circumcised. They are also considering offering the surgery to heterosexual adult males whose sexual behavior is such that they are at greater risk for the disease.

An official proposal hasn’t been made yet, but is expected to be made by the end of the year.

The problem with the studies being applied to males in the United States is that there is a huge discrepancy between available medical care in the United States and the countries studied in Africa. There is also a difference in the populations most at risk. While heterosexual males are at risk in Kenya, South Africa and Uganda, homosexual males are more at risk in the United States. The study shows that circumcision doesn’t impact the risk level for homosexual men.

The predominance of circumcised men in the United States has been cyclical over the years. At times it is just more common for baby boys to be circumcised than others. But, there is a higher percentage of males circumcised in the U.S. than many other countries, primarily because of the influence of Judaism. About 79% of adult men in the U.S have been circumcised. Even so, the numbers have dropped off since a high of 80% of newborn boys being circumcised right after World War II. White males are more likely to be circumcised than Black or Hispanic males.

The controversy is over whether or not it is necessary to expose newborn boys to unnecessary surgeries. It is apparent that circumcision would help reduce the out of control AIDS epidemic in Africa, but would it make a difference in the United States? Its reported that the largest ‘at risk’ population in the United States wouldn’t benefit from circumcision, so I’m not quite sure what the point is of requiring it.

It seems that providing education as to the risks and benefits would be helpful, and allowing parents to make informed decisions about whether or not to have their child circumcised. Having it required will only create controversy and anger on the part of many parents who already feel the government is too intrusive in our lives. Circumcision is a delicate topic for some people. Some people have strong feelings for and against it. Some of it is religious and some is health oriented. The point is, its a pretty personal decision and most people don’t want the centralized government making the decision for them.

The money spent on requiring this procedure could be spent on education about it with plenty left over to put into more productive preventative medicines. There would probably be some left over to help offer circumcisions in African nations if they wanted the help. Either way, NOT having required circumcision for all baby boys born in the United States would save money and a lot of irritation on the part of the people. Let parents decide.

What are your thoughts?


Photo: Nils Fretwurst

Some recent reports have speculated about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) upcoming public health recommendations on male circumcision for HIV prevention in the United States.

It is important to note that the recommendations are still in development and CDC has made no determination at this time about the final content. CDC is employing a deliberative, evidence-based process for developing the circumcision recommendations, which allows for both external and internal CDC experts to provide input. CDC will also publish draft recommendations for public comment before the content will be finalized.

With respect to infant circumcision, it is important to recognize that many options are still being considered in this process, including simply recommending that health-care providers educate parents about the potential benefits and risks to ensure that parents have the information they need to make an informed decision.

In developing its recommendations, CDC is also considering whether circumcision should be recommended for heterosexual adults at high risk for HIV infection in the United States, as well as whether there is sufficient scientific evidence to make any recommendations for men who have sex with men.

Whatever the content may include, CDC’s final circumcision recommendations will be completely voluntary. While CDC has not yet determined if male circumcision should be recommended for any population, ultimately the decision will rest with individuals and parents. CDC’s public health imperative is to provide the best possible information on the risks and benefits to help inform those decisions.

For further information, please link to CDC Fact Sheet on male circumcision.

The italics are mine. I find that you are being alarmist about a threat that simply does not exist. I understand the American health care debate. For you to try to pretend that part of "big bad government health care" is CDC making circumcision mandatory is plain irresponsible.

Agreed. Genital mutilation is just that, no matter what country you're in or what religion you practice.

yes, seems a bit alarmist. Of course it will never be mandatory ....

Sorry-- I fully admit to not reading everything here yet... short on time. But I have to say that while I realize things can happen.. it sounds pretty farfetched to me that circumcision would be required.