Abstract

Research is ongoing concerning the medical risks and benefits of routine neonatal male circumcision. Interpretation of the data, however, is controversial. Circumcision presents a number of challenges in obtaining informed consent because of a variety of interesting issues. It is a nonemergent, elective procedure that allows for evaluation and discussion over time. In this respect, observation of the informed consent process for circumcision is relevant to other medical decisions, such as advance directives, discussed between primary care providers and patients. Obtaining informed consent for circumcision has its constraints. The process generally occurs over a brief hospital stay. There have been recent changes in the official position regarding the procedure by professional medical societies, and it raises considerable psychologic issues for the provider and may Impact the way in which Information is provided