Circumcision may be offered on cultural basis

CIRCUMCISION services could be available on non-essential, non-medical grounds in children’s hospitals around the country by next year under a new plan being considered by the Department of Health and the country’s major health boards.

The need for such a service was highlighted in August following the death in Waterford of a newborn baby boy. Callis Osaghae was taken to Waterford Regional Hospital when he began bleeding heavily after a botched circumcision.

He died the same day.

At present, circumcision is only available on health grounds at the majority of the country’s hospitals.

Pressure has been mounting to provide the service, particularly to the growing number of ethnic minorities for whom it is part of their cultures.

The South Eastern Health Board, which covers the Waterford area, is already leading the way.

“The General Hospital’s Committee of the South Eastern Health Board has drawn up guidelines on the provision of surgical services for children. “These guidelines will be brought before the next board meeting,” a spokesperson said.

The Department of Health and Children, under their Chief Medical Officer, has also established a national group to devise a policy for the provision of circumcision services.

“The SEHB will be discussing its guidelines with this group in due course,” the spokesperson added.

The Department of Health said Chief Medical Officer Jim Kiely sought the advice of a number of authorities on the matter of non-essential circumcision. Some agencies have come back to him, others have not, a Department spokesman said.

“Circumcision ... may be offered on cultural and social grounds, maybe as early as next year,” the spokesman added.