American Academy of Pediatrics endorses "nicking" of a females genitals

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The traditional custom of ritual cutting and alteration of the genitalia of female infants, children, and adolescents, referred to as female genital mutilation or female genital cutting (FGC), persists primarily in Africa and among certain communities in the Middle East and Asia. Immigrants in the United States from areas in which FGC is common may have daughters who have undergone a ritual genital procedure or may request that such a procedure be performed by a physician. The American Academy of Pediatrics believes that pediatricians and pediatric surgical specialists should be aware that this practice has life threatening health risks for children and women. The American Academy of Pediatrics opposes all types of female genital cutting that pose risks of physical or psychological harm.

...

In some countries in which FGC is common, some progress toward eradication or amelioration has been made by substituting ritual “nicks” for more severe forms.

...

The option of offering a “ritual nick” is currently precluded by US federal law, which makes criminal any nonmedical procedure performed on the genitals of a female minor.

The American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement on newborn male circumcision expresses respect for parental decision-making and acknowledges the legitimacy of including cultural, religious, and ethnic traditions when making the choice of whether to surgically alter a male infant’s genitals. Of course, parental

decision-making is not without limits, and pediatricians must always resist decisions that are likely to cause harm to children. Most forms of FGC are decidedly harmful, and pediatricians should decline to perform them, even in the absence of any legal constraints. However, the ritual nick suggested by some pediatricians is not physically harmful and is much less extensive than routine newborn male genital cutting. There is reason to believe that offering such a compromise may build trust between hospitals and immigrant communities, save some girls from undergoing disfiguring and life threatening procedures in their native countries, and play a role in the eventual eradication of FGC. It might be more effective if federal and state laws enabled pediatricians to reach out to families by offering a ritual nick as a possible compromise to avoid greater harm.

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/peds.2010-0187v1

Edited May 7, 2010 by w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Yeah. This is pretty messed up.

If nicking females genitals is what is needed to build trust between certain immigrants and hospitals, I'd daresay that's precisely the kind of immigrants we could probably do without.

[Jenn! 918]

#######! This is not the first time that I've questioned the AAP.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Yeah. This is pretty messed up.

If nicking females genitals is what is needed to build trust between certain immigrants and hospitals, I'd daresay that's precisely the kind of immigrants we could probably do without.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

If nicking females genitals is what is needed to build trust between certain immigrants and hospitals, I'd daresay that's precisely the kind of immigrants we could probably do without.

Agreed.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

what are they "knicking" exactly? The #######?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

what are they "knicking" exactly? The #######?

Yes.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

So its still mutilation then....

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

So its still mutilation then....

It's just a nick

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

The traditional custom of ritual cutting and alteration of the genitalia of female infants, children, and adolescents, referred to as female genital mutilation or female genital cutting (FGC), persists primarily in Africa and among certain communities in the Middle East and Asia. Immigrants in the United States from areas in which FGC is common may have daughters who have undergone a ritual genital procedure or may request that such a procedure be performed by a physician. The American Academy of Pediatrics believes that pediatricians and pediatric surgical specialists should be aware that this practice has life threatening health risks for children and women. The American Academy of Pediatrics opposes all types of female genital cutting that pose risks of physical or psychological harm.

...

In some countries in which FGC is common, some progress toward eradication or amelioration has been made by substituting ritual “nicks” for more severe forms.

...

The option of offering a “ritual nick” is currently precluded by US federal law, which makes criminal any nonmedical procedure performed on the genitals of a female minor.

The American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement on newborn male circumcision expresses respect for parental decision-making and acknowledges the legitimacy of including cultural, religious, and ethnic traditions when making the choice of whether to surgically alter a male infant’s genitals. Of course, parental

decision-making is not without limits, and pediatricians must always resist decisions that are likely to cause harm to children. Most forms of FGC are decidedly harmful, and pediatricians should decline to perform them, even in the absence of any legal constraints. However, the ritual nick suggested by some pediatricians is not physically harmful and is much less extensive than routine newborn male genital cutting. There is reason to believe that offering such a compromise may build trust between hospitals and immigrant communities, save some girls from undergoing disfiguring and life threatening procedures in their native countries, and play a role in the eventual eradication of FGC. It might be more effective if federal and state laws enabled pediatricians to reach out to families by offering a ritual nick as a possible compromise to avoid greater harm.

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/peds.2010-0187v1

Wait, let me see if I understand correctly...

We have federal laws requiring a minimum wage, but it is traditional NOT to pay this amount to illegal aliens, and that is OK? But it is not OK to cut up a girls genitals? Why? If we can ignore one federal law for immigrants, why can't we ignore others? why don't we celebrate the abuse and mutilation of girls on a special day, sort of like "Cinco De Mayo" for mutilators? Is that it? They want to be celebrated?

Illegal aline women can be sexually harassed and forced into sexual acts to obtain employment, or even into sexual x=slavery and they cannot treport it to anyone...and that is OK?

It is not OK to "nick" a girl's genitals but it is OK to send an illegal immigrant man onto a 120 degree roof with no safety harnessANDS not give him workman's comp if he gets hurt.

How did this world get so upside down?

Someone...please explain to me how some of our federal laws are OK to ignore and exploit immigrants with and others are not.

[TheBears 9]

WTH? Who comes up with these ideas?

[sandinista! 1,816]

this fills me with complete revulsion. but it's not as though the current method of throwing up our hands and going OMG that's fvcked up! on internet message boards is doing anything to help females who would be subjected to far more extensive, done at home covertly, ghastly mutilation. can everyone who disagrees with this offer up a more efficient solution to preventing more severe forms of fgm, that will actually work? i don't mean a solution that is 100% based on principle and has 0% chance of effectiveness, but one based on empirical evidence that it does actually prevent the more extensive, more severe form of this scourge. this isn't about appeasing immigrants but trying to prevent further, inevitable harm. because in most of these societies that practice this ######, it's as much a sure thing as death and taxes. so what's going to stop it?

Edited May 7, 2010 by sandinista!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

WTH? Who comes up with these ideas?

Good question. I suppose the train of thought behind such ideas is this: To date, certain immigrant populations will take their daughters back home at some point in time to have this gruesome ritual performed there. To counter that, a safe and less harmful alternative should be offered here instead.

Personally, I don't follow that train of thought since this is a detectable offense regardless of where it is performed. It'll come to light once the child sees the pediatrician here in the US following the procedure. At that point, you hold the parents accountable to the full extent of the law. In my opinion, that's the more appropriate approach.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

so what's going to stop it?

Overseas, enlightenment and education will stop it. It's happening already. My wife tells me that the practice of genital mutilation in Ethiopia, for example, takes place out in the country - where the undereducated population is found - rather than in the cities where you'll find the more modern and educated population. As for battling this horrible practice here? Severe punishment of the parents regardless of where the torturous procedure was performed.