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ELECTRONIC ARTICLE: Robert Adler, MsED*; Sandra Ottaway, and Stacey Gould Circumcision: We Have Heard From the Experts; Now Let's Hear From the Parents Pediatrics 2001; 107: e20 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

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eLetters published:

No Kidding!

Catharine Shaner   (5 February 2001)

Ethnicity

yuval brandstetter   (19 February 2001)

Unregrettable

Cory Mermer   (23 February 2001)

Untitled

HON Kam Lun Ellis   (28 March 2001)

Who is the patient?

George Hill   (7 July 2003)

No Kidding! 5 February 2001
Catharine Shaner, Pediatrician Send letter to journal: Re: No Kidding! ShanerMD{at}aol.com Catharine Shaner	If the circumcision is already a "done deal," there aren't many parents who would admit to themselves or others that perhaps it shouldn't have been. After all, there is no turning back. This was a pointless waste of money.
Ethnicity 19 February 2001
yuval brandstetter, Pediatrician South Bend Clinic Send letter to journal: Re: Ethnicity yuval.brandstetter{at}excite.com yuval brandstetter	In this community, most white and Black parents want their babies circumcised. Latino parents do not. The disparaging attitude those parents perceive may have to do with their ethnicity, rather than the actual decision to circumcise.
Unregrettable 23 February 2001
Cory Mermer, Medical Researcher/Writer Send letter to journal: Re: Unregrettable camermer{at}home.com Cory Mermer	In their report, Adler et al state “Families who did not have their sons circumcised were less satisfied with their decision…Compared with families of circumcised children, parents of uncircumcised boys…were more likely to reconsider their decision.” However, there is a HUGE difference between regretting the decision to NOT circumcise versus the decision to circumcise. Parents, who regret not having the procedure done, can simply have the procedure done at a later time. On the other hand, parents who regret circumcising are just plain out of luck. Most parents realize that it is a non-reversible procedure and therefore would not be inclined to admit regretting the decision. To regret doing so would mean having to live with the guilt of having something done that might negatively impact their son’s life.
Untitled 28 March 2001
HON Kam Lun Ellis, Doctor University Staff Send letter to journal: Re: this article ehon{at}hotmail.com HON Kam Lun Ellis	I read with interest the issues on circumcision. The patient sample is small but does show that we as doctors should not forget considering a clinical issue from the parents' perspective. It will be interesting to undertake the same survey with the same questionaires on our local population (Hong Kong Chinese ethnicity) and see if there is any difference. I will start talking to our local general practitioner friends. Respectfully Yours, Ellis HON
Who is the patient? 7 July 2003
George Hill, Retired Send letter to journal: Re: Who is the patient? iconbuster{at}earthlink.net George Hill	This article seems to miss the point. When a child is presented for circumcision, it is the child who is the patient, not the parents. The physician's duties are to the child- patient, not the parent. The physician must keep the child-patient's needs paramount. Therefore, it is the child who needs must be satisfied, not the parents.