Rosio Pavoris

Ontario boy dies after complications from circumcision

According to the Paediatric Child Health article, the boy was “bottlefed and was reported to be doing well when he was circumsized.”

Five hours later, the parents returned to their family doctor with the infant, who had become “irritable and had blue discolouration” below the belly button.

Doctors noticed the discolouration and slight swelling of the penis, but sent the child home.

Fourteen hours after the circumcision, according to Cairns, the child was brought to another hospital where doctors noted he was extremely irritable with marked swelling of the penis and bruising to the scrotum.

The child was then transferred to a paediatric centre, where his bladder was diagnosed, Cairns said, to “seven or eight times its normal size.”

The PlastiBell ring, which is used to hold back the foreskin after circumcision, was removed and drained and the child went into shock.

“If the PlastiBell had been taken off five hours after he got there, he would be alive,” said Cairns.

The child’s death was attributed to septic shock — “an overwhelming infection, leading to multi-organ failure,” Cairns said.

Yes, sepsis is a real risk after any kind of surgical procedure, but this is just tragic. Circumcision is pointless, cosmetic surgery with no real benefits (I’m aware of the HIV study; you’re a fucking moron if you think that’s any kind of justification).
It’s estimated 229 newborns die every year as a result of complications arising after circumcision in the US. I’m not aware of statistics for Canadu, though the circumcision rate is considerably lower there. 229 isn’t a lot by any measure (though I’m sure their parents disagree), but they’re completely pointless and perfectly avoidable deaths.
Stop it.

(Via Pharyngula.)