2014 - New case of neonatal herpes following circumcision and oral suction - metzitzah b'peh

https://a816-health29ssl.nyc.gov/sites/NYCHAN/Lists/AlertUpdateAdvisoryDocuments/2014%20-%20NeonatalHSV.pdf

 Direct orogenital suction during ritual Jewish circumcision (also known as metzitzah b’peh) has been documented to transmit herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 to newborn males (1-4). In January 2014, the New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene received a report of a new case of HSV-1 infection in a newborn male infant following direct orogenital suction. To date, a total of 14 laboratory-confirmed cases of HSV-infection attributable to direct orogenital suction have been reported to the Health Department since 2000. Two of these infants died, and at least two others suffered brain damage (4).

In the most recent case, the infant was the term product of a full-term pregnancy and normal vaginal delivery. He had ritual Jewish circumcision including direct orogenital suction on day of life 8. On day of life 13, at a well-child visit, a rash was noted on and around genitals. The baby was treated with topical antibacterial ointment. On day of life 16, the baby returned to his provider for worsening rash, and a topical anti-fungal was added to the regimen. On day of life 18, lesions progressed to include the perineum and the right foot. HSV infection was suspected, and the infant was referred to a pediatric dermatologist. The next day, upon evaluation of the baby, the dermatologist, also suspecting HSV, collected specimens for direct visualization and for viral culture, and the baby was admitted to a hospital for treatment. The location of herpes lesions (on the genitals and on the foot, a dermatomal distribution reflecting involvement of sacral nerves), viral type (HSV type 1, which is commonly found in the mouth of adults), and timing of infection (5 days after circumcision) are consistent with transmission during direct contact between the mouth of the ritual circumciser (mohel) and the newly circumcised infant penis.

The document is co-signed by Susan Blank, one of the members of the AAP Task Force on Circumcision from the infamous policy statement of  2012 - the one that says that "the benefits outweigh the risks" - and the one that does not have the guts to say that "orogenital suction" (baby penis in adult's mouth) should not be performed. So much for that Dr. Blank.

Some Catastrophic Complications of Circumcision Recorded During 2013

This is what the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says about catastrophic complications from circumcision, on the 2012 Policy Statement on Circumcision and Technical Report on Circumcision:

The majority of severe or even catastrophic
injuries are so infrequent as
to be reported as case reports (and
were therefore excluded from this
literature review). These rare complications
include glans or penile amputation,
198–206 transmission of herpes
simplex after mouth-to-penis contact
by a mohel (Jewish ritual circumcisers)
after circumcision,207–209 methicillinresistant
Staphylococcus aureus infection,
210 urethral cutaneous fistula,211
glans ischemia,212 and death.213


January 2, 2013. TURKEY: Boy loses penis in circumcision
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/Default.aspx?pageID=238&nid=38346&op=sent

February 14, 2013. BELGIUM: Male circumcision tied to less sexual pleasure
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/14/us-health-male-circumcision-idUSBRE91D1CO20130214

February 19, 2013. BRAZIL: Study: mortality of medical circumcision, one death in 7700
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23386015

February 21, 2013. JAKARTA: 3 year old Boy with haemophilia bleeds after circumcision
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/02/21/toddler-with-hemophilia-bleeds-after-circumcision.html

February 28, 2013. JAKARTA: Mother kills 9 year old son after circumcision shrinks penis
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/indonesian-mum-kills-son-over-penis-size-20130228-2f94r.html#ixzz2MDuQOUQn

March 5, 2013. Queens Infant Disfigured in 2011 Botched Bris, Lawsuit Charges
http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130305/forest-hills/queens-infant-disfigured-botched-bris-lawsuit-charges

March 8, 2013. Baby bleeds after circumcision, suffers seizures and dies two days later. Hospital and family deny that circumcision was the cause.
http://circumstitionsnews.blogspot.com/2013/03/sacramento-another-circumcision-death.html

March 16, 2013. UNITED STATES: More than $80 million paid out for botched circumcisions since 1985
http://www.arclaw.org/resources/settlements

April 6, 2013. NEW YORK. Two Infants Contract Herpes Following Circumcision and Metzitzah b'Peh.
http://www.medicaldaily.com/articles/14560/20130406/circumcision-male-circumcision-jewish-ultra-orthodox-herpes-hiv.htm#445eUUYH8QRI6GtZ.99

May 29, 2013. CHICAGO: $1.3 million for botched circumcision, baby had the tip of the glans amputated during his circumcision in 2007
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/20417085-418/jury-awards-13m-for-newborns-botched-circumcision-attorneys.html

May 29, 2013. MOROCCO. A 3 year old child had part of the glans amputated during a hospital circumcision. This was reported online by the family, with a text in Arabic and a horrific youtube video (which was later deleted). The mother commented in our blog to let us know that a Canadian urologist had already seen the child and recommended long term follow up in case there was stenosis later, which may suggest that they were either able to re-attach or otherwise close the wound without further complications.
http://circleaks.blogspot.com/2013/05/boy-3-years-old-suffers-partial.html

June 7, 2013. TEL AVIV. Baby Dies in Israeli Hospital following Circumcision. Rabbinate denies any connection with the procedure. Baby stopped breathing minutes after the circumcision.
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/baby-dies-in-israeli-hospital-following-circumcision/2013/06/07/

June 10, 2013. EGYPT: Girl dies during circumcision at clinic
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2013/06/10/Egyptian-girl-dies-while-being-circumcised.html

June 17, 2013. SAUDI ARABIA: Doctor who botched 7 circumcisions gets 6 months
http://gulfnews.com/news/region/egypt/egyptian-doctor-convicted-of-botched-surgery-1.1198313

June 20, 2013. SOUTH AFRICA: R2.2M for botched medical circumcision of a child in 2009. He suffered severe burning, infections and a loss of his normal penile tissue after the procedure.
http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/r2-2m-for-boy-s-botched-circumcision-1.1534852

July 7, 2013. CHINA: man loses penis after botched circumcision
http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=125131:ouch-penis-amputated-after-botched-circumcision&Itemid=4#ixzz2YRJLaCh6

July 8, 2013. 20 more die, nearly 300 in hospital in botched circumcisions in Eastern Cape, South Africa
http://www.news.com.au/world-news/circumcision-ritual-kills-30-tribesmen-in-south-africas-eastern-cape/story-fndir2ev-1226675702537

5 men held for about 30 botched circumcision deaths in Eastern Cape, South Africa
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/5-held-for-botched-circumcision-deaths-20130708

UGANDA: Man loses penis in circumcision botch - July 2013
http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/645118-man-loses-penis-in-medical-circumcision.html

JULY

Boys forcefully circumcised in South Africa, several botched procedures
http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/r3m-claim-for-six-botched-circumcisions-1.1594608#.Umt1WlOhs_c

Surgery on intersex children could be unconstitutional - after sex reassignment of an intersex boy in State custody in S.C. (castration and amputation of penis)
http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/news/federal-court-says-sex-assignment-surgery-on-child-could-violate-us-constitution-r

AUGUST

Two more babies reported to have contracted Herpes after metzitzah b'peh during Jewish circumcision in NYC. August 2013
http://newsok.com/babies-herpes-linked-to-circumcision-practice/article/3875218

More men seeking legal advice after botched infant circumcisions in Australia.
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/botched-circumcisions-on-the-rise/story-fnhocxo3-1226701536216

4 year old boy dies after hospital circumcision in South Africa. August 2013
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/child-dies-after-circumcision-at-hospital-1.1563203#.Ug6TD6z2L2w

Nearly 80 boys and young men die after traditional circumcisions in South Africa. August 2013
http://www.africanspotlight.com/2013/07/20/when-circumcision-can-mean-death-in-south-africa/




NOVEMBER

UAE baby has penis partially cut off during circumcision. November 2013
http://www.emirates247.com/news/18-day-old-baby-s-organ-partially-cut-off-during-circumcision-2013-11-14-1.528015

UK Doctor accused of botching circumcision quits NHS - in order to perform circumcisions independently
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24961405

Tennessee baby suffers amputation. August 2013. Reported November of 2013
http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/story/23912521/mother-upset-over-botched-circumcision#axzz2p4dLMw5W

November 28, 2013. A baby died during a medical circumcision in Afghanistan. The parents wanted to avoid the pain of a later circumcision without anesthesia. The anesthesia was improperly applied and the baby died as a consequence. This was only reported on a facebook post which was later deleted by the family.

DECEMBER

Brooklyn Rabbi botched circumcision of baby with hypospadias. December 2009, reported December 2013.
http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/12/05/63485.htm

Canadian Doctor barred from performing circumcisions after more than 80 botched procedures. Botched procedures recorded since 2010. News reported December 2013
http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/Doctor+barred+from+performing+circumcisions+after+dozens+botched+procedures/9323461/story.html

Jewish baby in Pittsburgh has penis cut off during Jewish circumcision. April 2013. Reported December 2013
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2530755/Jewish-Rabbi-sued-accidentally-SEVERING-newborn-baby-boys-penis-Bris-Ceremony.html#ixzz2otJjZ9Ht