News Archive

D.O.C. Press Release Re USAID

From: J. Steven Svoboda
Date: 29 Apr 2003
Time: 17:27:37

Comments

Doctors Opposing Circumcision (D.O.C.)
2442 NW Market St. Suite 42 Tel: 360-385-1882
Seattle, Washington 98107 E-mail:

"Fear, pain, crippling, disfigurement and humiliation are the classic ways to break the human spirit. Circumcision includes them all."

D.O.C. Statement in response to:

Circumcision shown to deter HIV spread, THE WASHINGTON TIMES, April 25, 2003

Any Excuse to Perform Circumcisions

Seattle, WA - The unpublished USAID report, stating circumcision is beneficial to stop AIDS in Africa, incorrectly assumes heterosexual sex transmits most of the HIV in Africa and that the foreskin, considered by many doctors to have immunological and protective functions, is somehow the culprit. Just as the world medical community is dropping the "circumcision can stop AIDS idea" USAID begins using it. Ironically, unsafe healthcare is driving the spread of HIV in Africa via contaminated implements.

Three 2003 studies, based on the review of dozens of studies, say that two-thirds of African HIV cases are the result of contaminated implements and one-third are from practicing risky sexual practices. None of the studies mentions ownership of a foreskin as a conduit for the virus.

Quinn et al. state that viral load is the major factor.

Grulich could find no circumcision connection in the spread of HIV among Australian homosexuals.

USAID is borrowing the rusty reason, "He'll look like Dad." Dad in this case is paternalistic American culture. But even that reason is outmoded. Latest figures show that 45% of American boys are not being circumcised and that rate continues to increase without a corresponding increase in HIV infection.

Does Bill Gates realize that USAID is spending four million dollars of his money via the Bill Gates Foundation and may be contributing to the problem by increasing the spread of HIV, not reducing it? Shouldn't USAID use his money to correct healthcare practices, provide education, and distribute condoms?

Talk of circumcision on the decline:

At the Barcelona AIDS conference, 2002, there was scarcely a mention of circumcision. In years past, it was a hot-topic.

At the 2nd World Congress on Men's Health, held in Vienna (25-27 October 2002), an Egyptian urologist demanded that the World Health Organization subsidize circumcision in Africa as a means of controlling AIDS. He was all but shouted down by the audience, which would have nothing to do with the practice of circumcision.

Circumcisers are always looking for an excuse to circumcise. Over the past 100 years, they have selected the most frightening current disease and tried desperately to link it with lack of circumcision. Here is another case of circumcisers being wrong but not before millions are circumcised based on their "findings."

Circumcision complications are well known. Activists claim a 100% complication rate. Circumcised men and their partners report less than satisfying sex. All circumcision results in scarring and removal of nerve endings, plus the amputation of the foreskin and its beneficial gliding action.

-xxx-

Dr. George Denniston, 360-385-1882, , http://faculty.washington.edu/gcd/DOC/

Three articles on HIV in Africa, Royal Society of Medicine, http://www.rsm.ac.uk/new/pr126.htm

Grulich AE, Hendry O, Clark E, Kippax S, Kaldor JM. Circumcision and male-to-male sexual transmission of HIV. AIDS 2001 Jun 15;15(9):1188-1189. National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Sydney, Australia.

Quinn TC, Wawer MJ, Sewankambo N, Serwadda D, Li C, Wabwire-Mangen F, Meehan MO, Lutalo T, Gray RH. Viral load and heterosexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1. Rakai Project Study Group. N Engl J Med 2000 Mar 30;342(13):921-9

USAID: http://www.usaid.gov/