CIN (Circumcision Information Network) 2:1

Introduction
This weekly bulletin is a project of CIN, the Circumcision Information Network (formerly CIN CompuBulletin). The purpose of this weekly bulletin is to educate the public about and to protect children and other non-consenting persons from genital mutilation. Readers are encouraged to copy and redistribute it, and to contribute written material.
--Rich Angell, Editor.

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE:  CIRCUMCISION, 3 DEC. 1994, reported by Tri-Service of
San Diego, CA.
"Plaintiff Attorney:  Neil C. Newson (Neil C. Newson & Associates), Beverly
Hills (310) 278-7555
Defendant Attorney:  Mark V. Mooney (Asst. U.S. Attorney), Los Angeles (213)
849-0210
Trial Judge:  Edward Rafeedie
Trial Time:  1 day (Court Trial)
Insurance Co:  Self-Insured

"Case:  Martez Carpenter & Phyllis Carpenter Vs. U.S.A., CV93 7182 ER

"Facts:  3 July 91:  Plaintiff was born at the Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in
Oakland, California.  Twelve hours following a normal delivery by C-Section,
the Plaintiff underwent an elected circumcision.  During the course of the
circumcision, Dr. Tam, a pediatrician, amputated approximately 30% of the
distal glans penis and transected the glandular urethra.  A less than
successful attempt was made to reattach that which had been excised.
Subsequent plastic surgery has been attempted and there is resultant
deformity at the tip of the penis.  Function has not been impaired though a
condition known as acquired "Hypospedias: has developed.  This is a defect
where the urethra, though extending through the penis, exists on the
underside rather than at the tip.  The Plaintiff has undergone 4 corrective
surgeries and requires at least one further surgery at this time.

"INJURIES:  Disfigured penis, hypospadias.  Treatment:  4 corrective
surgeries.  Residuals:  Future emotional distress causing need for future
medical care.  Medical costs:  $56,000.

"CONTENTIONS:  Plaintiff claimed the doctors were negligent in their
treatment of the child.  All the subsequent care was caused by the doctor's
negligence.  Both of the child's parents suffered emotional distress.

"Defendant conceded to liability as to Martez, but denied breach of its duty
to his mother, Phyllis Carpenter.  While conceding liability, they argued
that there was no need for future psychiatric care.  Any further surgery
could be performed at no expense by naval doctors.  The claim was of minimal
value.

"SETTLEMENT:  Offer:  $150,000.  Demand:  $250,000.  Verdict:  $256,000.

"NOTE:  The Plaintiff's mother and father each brought separate actions for
negligent infliction of emotional distress.  Though they did not witness the
occurrence, they based their claim on the line of cases which develop from
Molien Vs. Kaiser.  The Court, on an earlier Motion for Summary Judgement,
denied the claim of Maurice Carpenter, the father, but allowed the claim of
the mother's to go to trial.  The Court recognized that a pre-existing
relationship existed and the mother suffered substantial injury.  However,
the Court determined that the negligent conduct to the child was not so
inter-related with the care of the mother as to warrant her recovery for
emotional distress only.  Further, the Court noted that the conduct of the
doctor, while negligent, was not outrageous."

COMMENTS FROM CIN
1)  Since when is a C-Section an "normal delivery"?  Small wonder American
doctors are known in the international medical community as "knife-wielding
cowboys."
2)  The "Plaintiff underwent an elected circumcision" yet he didn't elect it
himself.
3)  The "Court noted that the conduct of the doctor...was not outrageous."
CIN maintains that the act of circumcision itself was indeed outrageous.
4)  Try telling the Carpenters that complications due to circumcision are
rare.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, 30 DECEMBER 1994,  P6:  "An Ancient African Custom
Comes Under Fire:  Women's groups fight to ban cruel practice of female
circumcision," Robert M. Press, Staff writer of the C.S.M.

The Monitor has done several articles mentioning FGM, including this one.
However, the Monitor has failed to address MGM.  That's why the CIN
CompuBulletin exists.  Following are some excerpts from the article, with
comments of comparison of FGM with MGM.

Monitor:  "In Ethiopia, opponents of the tradition launched a quarterly
newsletter in October aimed at providing information on the dangers of the
tradition and the myths that perpetuate it."

CIN:  Similarly, we have the NOCIRC Newsletter, also a quarterly publication,
this CIN CompuBulletin, The Guardian Angell (a newsletter for activists),
NOCIRC of Australia Newsletter,  NOHARMM progress reports, NOCIRC of Vermont
newsletter, and NOHARMM of Hawaii Newsletter.

Monitor:  "'Female genital mutilation is the most widespread form of torture
in the world,' according to an editorial in the first issue of the
newsletter, published by the National Committee on Traditional Practices of
Ethiopia (NCTPE)."

CIN:  Apparently, some people believe that genital mutilation is torture as
long as the victim is female.  There are ten times as many victims of MGM.

Monitor:  "Traditional belief holds that FGM helps preserve chastity and that
without it women are not fit for marriage."

CIN:  Genital mutilation of both boys and girls was established a century ago
in the U.S. and other English speaking countries so as to prevent
masturbation.  There are many women in Western countries who refuse to marry
a man who is not circumcised.

Monitor:  "'It's the grandmothers who insist,' [Mhdame Bintu Bouare Sameke, a
member of the Association of Malian Court Lawyers (AMCL)] says.  'They say:
"I did it; you do it."'"

CIN:  Similarly, many American men say, "I'm circumcised, and I want my son
to be like me."

Monitor:  "[Tatimata Dumbia Dembele, president of the AMCL] admits, 'Society
accepts it.  When the society accepts it, the law can't stop it.'"

CIN:  No kidding.

Monitor:  "'It's fine,' says one young lady...   It's not problem.'  She says
its not a health risk either.

CIN:  How many circumcised men have you heard say something like that.
Denial is a defense mechanism found among survivors of both male and female
genital mutilation.

Monitor:  "FGM reduces 'sexual feelings' on the part of the woman, says Kande
Drame, a high school student.'"

CIN:  Of course.  How can one possibly amputate part of the genitalia without
a subsequent loss of sexual feelings?

FINAL NOTE:  If opponents of FGM would acknowledge MGM, together we would
make progress much faster.  Let's join together to make the world safer for
the gentitalia of both boys and girls.  

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