Male Circumcision: A Social And Medical Misconception Essay -- essays

young-begetting(prenominal) Circumcision A Social and Medical MisconceptionUniversity of Johns HopkinsIntroductionMale circumcision is defined as a surgical procedure in which the prepuceof the penis is separated from the glands and excised. (Mosby, 1986) Dating asfar back as 2800 BC, circumcision has been performed as a part of religiousceremony, as a puberty or premarital rite, as a disciplinary measure, as areprieve against the virulent effects of vaginal blood, and as a mark of slavery.(Milos & Macris, 1992) In the United States, advocacy of circumcision wasperpetuated amid the Victorian belief that circumcision served as a remedyagainst the ills of withdrawal and systemic disease. (Lund, 1990) Thescientific community further reinforced these beliefs by insurance coverage the incidenceof hygiene-related urogenital disorders to be higher in uncircumcised men.Circumcision is now a societal norm in the United States. Routinecircumcision is the most widely in effect(p) ped iatric surgery and an estimated oneto one-and-a-half million newborns, or 80 to 90 percent of the population, arecircumcised. (Lund, 1990) Despite these statistics, circumcision still remains atopic of swell debate. The medical community is examining the select for asurgical procedure that is historically base on religious and cultural doctrineand not of medical necessity. possible complications of circumcision includehemorrhage, transmittance, surgical trauma, and pain. (Gelbaum, 1992) Unlessabsolute medical indications be, why should male infants be uncovered to theserisks? In essence, our society has perpetuated an unnecessary surgical procedurethat permanently alters a normal, healthy body part.This paper examines the literature surrounding the debate over circumcision,delineates the flaws that exist in the research, and discusses the nurses rolein the circumcision debate.Review of LiteratureMany studies performed planetary suggest a relationship between lack ofcircumci sion and urinary tract infection (UTI). In 1982, Ginsberg and McCrackendescribed a case series of infants five days to eight months of age hospitalizedwith UTI. (Thompson, 1990) Of the total infant population hospitalized with UTI,sixty-two were males and only trine were circumcised. (Thompson, 1990) Based onthis information, the researchers speculated that, "the uncircumcised male hasan increased susceptibili... ...a cultural and religious religious rite and has beenmaintained over the decades despite the risks associated with this nonessential,surgical procedure. The current literature does not attain a need forcircumcision in the neonate. However, circumcision in the male neonate pass oncontinue to be a topic of wide debate until the risks can be shown, without adoubt, to outweigh the benefits. Circumcision has truly become a social norm inour country that the medical community attempts to justify with weak andinaccurate research. concord to the ANA, it is not the role o f the nurse to decide for theparent on the need for circumcision in the infant. Rather, it is the nursesrole to present all of the information in an unbiased mien and remain anadvocate of the rights of the patient. Nurses need to realistically analyze thedata forthcoming and decide if they truly are an advocate, or are merely followingin the steps of their colleagues.ReferencesAmerican Nurses Association (1991). Standards of clinical nursingpractice. Washington, D.C. American Nurses Association.Gelbaum, I. (1992). Circumcision to condition not indoctrinate-amandate for certified nurse-midwives. Journal of Nurse- Male Circumcision A Social And Medical Misconception Essay -- essays Male Circumcision A Social and Medical MisconceptionUniversity of Johns HopkinsIntroductionMale circumcision is defined as a surgical procedure in which the prepuceof the penis is separated from the glands and excised. (Mosby, 1986) Dating asfar back as 2800 BC, circumcision has been pe rformed as a part of religiousceremony, as a puberty or premarital rite, as a disciplinary measure, as areprieve against the toxic effects of vaginal blood, and as a mark of slavery.(Milos & Macris, 1992) In the United States, advocacy of circumcision wasperpetuated amid the Victorian belief that circumcision served as a remedyagainst the ills of masturbation and systemic disease. (Lund, 1990) Thescientific community further reinforced these beliefs by reporting the incidenceof hygiene-related urogenital disorders to be higher in uncircumcised men.Circumcision is now a societal norm in the United States. Routinecircumcision is the most widely practiced pediatric surgery and an estimated oneto one-and-a-half million newborns, or 80 to 90 percent of the population, arecircumcised. (Lund, 1990) Despite these statistics, circumcision still remains atopic of great debate. The medical community is examining the need for asurgical procedure that is historically based on religious and cu ltural doctrineand not of medical necessity. Possible complications of circumcision includehemorrhage, infection, surgical trauma, and pain. (Gelbaum, 1992) Unlessabsolute medical indications exist, why should male infants be exposed to theserisks? In essence, our society has perpetuated an unnecessary surgical procedurethat permanently alters a normal, healthy body part.This paper examines the literature surrounding the debate over circumcision,delineates the flaws that exist in the research, and discusses the nurses rolein the circumcision debate.Review of LiteratureMany studies performed worldwide suggest a relationship between lack ofcircumcision and urinary tract infection (UTI). In 1982, Ginsberg and McCrackendescribed a case series of infants five days to eight months of age hospitalizedwith UTI. (Thompson, 1990) Of the total infant population hospitalized with UTI,sixty-two were males and only three were circumcised. (Thompson, 1990) Based onthis information, the researchers speculated that, "the uncircumcised male hasan increased susceptibili... ...a cultural and religious ritual and has beenmaintained over the decades despite the risks associated with this nonessential,surgical procedure. The current literature does not reveal a need forcircumcision in the neonate. However, circumcision in the male neonate willcontinue to be a topic of wide debate until the risks can be shown, without adoubt, to outweigh the benefits. Circumcision has truly become a social norm inour country that the medical community attempts to justify with weak andinaccurate research.According to the ANA, it is not the role of the nurse to decide for theparent on the need for circumcision in the infant. Rather, it is the nursesrole to present all of the information in an unbiased manner and remain anadvocate of the rights of the patient. Nurses need to realistically analyze thedata available and decide if they truly are an advocate, or are merely followingin the steps of thei r colleagues.ReferencesAmerican Nurses Association (1991). Standards of clinical nursingpractice. Washington, D.C. American Nurses Association.Gelbaum, I. (1992). Circumcision to educate not indoctrinate-amandate for certified nurse-midwives. Journal of Nurse-