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from the Herald Sun

CIRCUMCISION will be banned in Victorian public hospitals unless it is for medical reasons.

The State Government has ordered the ban, which starts next month, following medical advice that circumcision of baby boys was unnecessary.

Health Minister Daniel Andrews said circumcisions would be performed only when doctors were concerned about infection or disease.

"Nationally and overseas, doctors agree there is no medical benefit to routine circumcision, and studies show the complication rate is about 5 per cent," Mr Andrews said.

[See below for a url where the UN contradicts Minister Daniels' assertion]

The $2 million a year saved by the ban will be spent on urgent elective surgery.

"It is important to ensure hospital services are prioritised towards treating patients who have a clinical need for surgery to improve their health," Mr Andrews said.

Ministerial Advisory Committee on Elective Surgery chairman Prof Michael Grigg said it was hard to justify spending taxpayers' money on routine circumcision.

"We should be spending relatively scarce health dollars as effectively as we can to benefit the maximum number of people," he said.

Prof Grigg said circumcision had marginal health benefits for some people, but also had a risk of complication.

About 2200 circumcisions were performed by Victorian public hospitals in the 2005-06 financial year.

Parents who want to have their sons circumcised for religious reasons will have to use a private hospital.

# reads: 215

Original piece is http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22227225-24331,00.html

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Notwithstanding all the previous comments - that this move does not constitute any real impingement on our religious values and practices - I still question the govt's underlying motive, especially since there ARE some demonstrable health benefits in the procedure. I s'pose it's not really a COSV issue - the health benefits of circumcision.

Posted on 2007-08-14 02:33:07 GMT

In logic terms ,since circumcision is not strictly necessary for health reasons,the Govt has adopted a user pays principle using the private sector. This is not unreasonable

Posted by Joel Freeman on 2007-08-14 01:27:22 GMT

A Brit Milah is performed by a Mohel. It appears that the ban is in place only as a hospital procedure. It does not appear that it's banned if it is to be performed by a Mohel at no expense to the Hospital.

Posted by moshe trebish on 2007-08-14 01:14:43 GMT

Thank you for the information, of which I was aware. Given that most mothers of new-born babies are discharged from hospital much earlier than previously, I wonder how often a Brith Milah is now performed in hospital? From anecdotal information, it would appear that most are done post-hospital. It would be interesting to find out the statistics and see whether it is a real concern.

Posted by NB on 2007-08-13 23:57:22 GMT

GENEVA, March 28 2007 (Reuters) - The United Nations on Wednesday endorsed male circumcision as a way to prevent HIV infections in heterosexual men and said it should be made more easily available in African countries. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L28623672.htm

Posted by Ralph Zwier on 2007-08-13 21:38:47 GMT

Doesn't the UN currently support circumcision as being of benefit to preventing AIDS?

Posted by Mike on 2007-08-13 09:36:00 GMT

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Circumcision banned in Victorian public hospitals

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