Home / Series / Insight (1995) / Aired Order / Season 2012 / Episode 27

The First Cut

Should baby boys be circumcised? Male circumcision is far less popular in Australia than it used to be. But there’s a small but vocal movement of doctors and medical researchers calling for it to be routinely offered for health reasons, including hygiene and to prevent sexually transmitted infections . They’ve been bolstered by a new policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics which recently reviewed more than a thousand studies and concluded that the 'preventative health benefits of elective circumcision of male newborns outweigh the risks". It’s not just health that’s a factor in the decision making. Male circumcision still plays a religious role in Australia’s Jewish and Muslim communities and is a traditional cultural practice for some people from Indigenous, African, Middle Eastern and Islander backgrounds. And for some, it's just the way it's always been done. And if you decide you want a circumcision for your child, there are hurdles: in some parts of Australia it’s virtually impossible to find doctors who will perform the procedure. And no one seems to be able to agree on what’s the best age. This week on Insight: does the medical evidence stack up? Is it ok to undergo surgery for non-health reasons? And who should have the right to make the decision to snip?

English
  • Originally Aired October 2, 2012
  • Runtime 60 minutes
  • Content Rating United States of America TV-G
  • Network SBS
  • Created September 17, 2017 by
    Administrator admin
  • Modified September 17, 2017 by
    Administrator admin