Judge to Decide on Circumcision for 8 year old Boy

from United Press International

An Illinois judge has halted the circumcision of an 8-year-old boy while his father contests the mother's plan for the operation.

The judge granted a temporary restraining order on the operation Friday.

The mother has said two doctors agreed with the circumcision, saying it will prevent medical problems. The father fears it will harm his son both emotionally and physically. He called it an "unnecessary amputation."

Circumcisions, usually performed on newborns, aren't common worldwide and have ebbed recently in the United States where about 60 percent of boys now get the procedure compared to 90 percent in 1970.

The American Academy of Pediatrics now takes a neutral stance on the issue, leaving it up to parents.

Critics of circumcision call it a human rights violation and unnecessary, while those in favor say it is healthy for males.