www.circumcisionandhiv.com - Male Circumcision and HIV / AIDS

Several assumptions run through the statements emanating from the authors of the various studies that purport to recommend male circumcision as a risk-reducing measure against HIV / AIDS.

The first one is that any measure that has a vaccine-like effect, however imperfect, is desirable without regard to the costs whether physical, logistical or monetary.

The second assumption is that circumcision may be considered life-saving, and therefore, anyone who questions it either lacks compassion or ethics.

A third assumption is that circumcision unquestionably has unappreciated benefits. Yet it is not a "panacea" for the particular benefit in question. Hence, its proponents disclaim any responsibility for its failures.

Ironically, all these assumptions have attached themselves in one form or another to every past discredited justification for the practice since it became normative in the United States over a 100 years ago.

Statement of Intent

In the coming weeks, these pages will be slowly adding information on the purported value of male circumcision as an HIV / AIDS prevention or risk reduction measure. We will seek to explain the ethics, efficacy and costs to such a proposition. Our approach will always be a skeptical one, as skepticism is a valuable tool to get at the truth. These pages' author's initial impression is that male circumcision is fraught with ethical and practical problems that make it unlikely to be an effective tool against the spread of HIV.

The most recent studies have not been published yet. However, much has been written and reported about the results. We will analyze and critique these reports until the studies become available. Once the studies are available, we will analyze them and provide a detailed critique.

In the meantime, please check back often as new material is added.

Sincerely,

The Editors

Circumcisionandhiv.com

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