Introduction
Circumcision refers to the surgical removal of the foreskin of the male reproductive organ. It is an integral part of the Christian doctrines because they do it as part of God’s covenant with humankind that all boys were to undergo the procedure on the eighth day (Terkel & Greenberg, 2012). Over the years, circumcision has been a very controversial topic across various social circles because of the human and ethical issues that surround it.
The main issue of contention about the process is the stage in life at which it is conducted. Some cultures do it on young boys while others choose to do it when the boys reach puberty (Terkel & Greenberg, 2012). Studies have established that circumcision is more than a medical issue because they are both ethical and human issues that influence its application.
Discussion
According to health care experts, circumcision often applies as a huge violation of medical ethics. This notion is influenced by the rule of medicine that requires all human beings to be protected from any form of harm. The experts argue that removing a healthy part of a human body through circumcision causes harm, which is unethical in the medical practice (Singer, 2011). However, the irony of the whole issue is the fact that the procedure is often conducted by doctors who are often very quick to dismiss the pain felt as being short-lived.
One of the main human issues that surround circumcision is the violation of the moral principle that allows human beings to make decisions that might cause pain to them on their own. Critics of circumcision argue that it is immoral to subject a defenseless infant to the pain experienced during circumcision (Terkel & Greenberg, 2012). They argue that such procedures should be conducted during adulthood when an individual clearly understands the implications involved. Circumcision done to infants should be done with adequate measures to control the amount of pain experienced.
Circumcision has also raised the human issue of parents acting in disregard for the welfare of their children when they decide to have them circumcised at a young age (Singer, 2011). The main reason for this is the fact that critics of circumcision believe that any member of the health care team who participates in the process agrees with the request to cause pain to another human being. This phenomenon has led to a huge conflict between the attitude of the society towards circumcision and the ethical principles in medical practice (Terkel & Greenberg, 2012).
Parents always believe that doctors are professionals who always prioritize the welfare of their patients during every procedure. However, critics argue that doctors are prone to making medical errors that can easily compromise the safety and welfare of the patient (Singer, 2011). Members of the health care team believe that circumcision is often not their decision, but a response to a request made by parents (Terkel & Greenberg, 2012). Health care experts defend the continued practice of circumcision by arguing that it is the responsibility of medical professionals to set and promote the standards of medical practice within their respective communities.
Conclusion
Human rights activists and health care practitioners have differed a lot over the years about the morality of circumcision. Human activists believe that the process is unethical and a violation of numerous rights of the children that are circumcised at a young age. On the other hand, members of the health care team argue that they have an ethical code of conduct that guides all their actions when dealing with patients, thus no need for the society to label them as being unethical.
References
Singer, P. (2011). Practical Ethics. Los Angels, CA: Cambridge University Press.
Terkel, S., & Greenberg, L. (2012). The Circumcision Decision: An Unbiased Guide for Parents. New York, NY: Carrot Seed Publishing.