RACP's policy statement on infant male circumcision is ill-conceived

  1. Brian J. Morris1,*,
  2. Stefan A. Bailis2,
  3. Xavier Castellsague3,
  4. Thomas E. Wiswell4,
  5. Daniel T. Halperin5

Article first published online: 25 SEP 2007

DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-842X.2006.tb00079.x

Issue

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

Volume 30, Issue 1, pages 16–22, February 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

Morris, B. J., Bailis, S. A., Castellsague, X., Wiswell, T. E. and Halperin, D. T. (2006), RACP's policy statement on infant male circumcision is ill-conceived. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 30: 16–22. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-842X.2006.tb00079.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    School of Medical Sciences and Institute for Biomedical Research, University of Sydney, New South Wales

  2. 2

    Research and Education Association on Circumcision Health Effects, United States of America

  3. 3

    Servei d'Epidemiologia i Registre del Càncer, Institut Català d'Oncologia L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain

  4. 4

    Department of Paediatrics, State University of New York, United States of America

  5. 5

    AIDS Research Institute/Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, United States of America

* School of Medical Sciences and Institute for Biomedical Research, Building F13, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006. Fax: (02) 9351 2227; e-mail:brianm@medsci.usyd.edu.au

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 25 SEP 2007
  2. Article first published online: 25 SEP 2007
  3. Revision requested: April 2005 Accepted: January 2006

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Abstract

Objective:To conduct a critical peer-review of the 2004 Policy Statement on routine male circumcision produced by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP).

Method:Comprehensive evaluation in the context of the research field.

Results:We find that the current Statement downplays the wide-ranging life-long benefits of circumcision in prevention of urinary tract infections (UTIs), penile and cervical cancer, genital herpes and chlamydia in women, HIV infection, phimosis, and various penile dermatoses, and at the same time overstates the complication rate. We highlight the many errors in the RACP Statement and note that it sidesteps making a conclusion based on circumcision's well-documented prophylactic health benefits by instead referring to the status of the foreskin at birth. In the era of preventative medicine we view this as irresponsible.

Conclusion:The RACP's Statement on routine male circumcision is not evidence-based and should be retracted.

Implications:In the interests of public health and individual well-being an extensive, comprehensive, evidence-based revision should be conducted so as to provide scientifically accurate, balanced information on the advantages, and also the low rate of mostly minor complications, associated with this simple procedure, which for maximum benefits and minimal risk should ideally be performed in the neonatal period.

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