# Newborn dies after controversial circumcision ritual **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 5, 2012, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newborn-dies-after-controversial-circumcision-ritual/614865 "2012-03-05T23:30:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newborn-dies-after-controversial-circumcision-ritual/614865/1 "2012-03-05T23:30:35Z")
Wow. Really? I’m too tired for the full-on rant this deserves in the Pit, but damn. I know religion and reason are diametrically opposed, but don’t any of these idiots have a lick of common sense? **As part of the ultra-orthodox Jewish circumcision ritual, the rabbi or mohel removes blood from the wound with his mouth.** Hell, I thought avoiding bacon was foolish, but these guys take the Torah or whatever other comic book they’re reading way too seriously. Way to go, rabbi. I’m sure this is what your god had in mind. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![\_Olive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/4af34b/32.png) [@\_Olive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Olive)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newborn-dies-after-controversial-circumcision-ritual/614865/2 "2012-03-05T23:33:36Z")
very sad~ ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newborn-dies-after-controversial-circumcision-ritual/614865/3 "2012-03-05T23:44:30Z")
Link? Anything? Not to thread-shit, but the OP doesn’t really say anything. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newborn-dies-after-controversial-circumcision-ritual/614865/4 "2012-03-05T23:50:39Z")
Herpes 1 (cold sore) ---
**Author:** ![Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8dc957/32.png) [@Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Christopher_Robin_Davies)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newborn-dies-after-controversial-circumcision-ritual/614865/5 "2012-03-05T23:59:06Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > Link? Anything? Not to thread-shit, but the OP doesn’t really say anything. I believe this is the story in question. [http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/03/05/newborn-dies-after-contracting-herpes-from-controversial-circumcision-ritual/](http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/03/05/newborn-dies-after-contracting-herpes-from-controversial-circumcision-ritual/) ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newborn-dies-after-controversial-circumcision-ritual/614865/6 "2012-03-06T00:01:19Z")
[Here’s](http://www.jta.org/news/article/2012/03/04/3091942/report-newborn-died-from-circumcision-related-rite) a link. I’m guessing it’s the story the OP is referring to. For those who don’t want to read, the baby died of a herpes infection. His twin also got the infection but lived. The guy who sucked the infant penii denies having herpes, even though another infant he circumsized also contracted it. Religious leaders think sucking the circumcisions is better than following 21st century medical practices. They are outraged that others are getting into their business. Oral herpes is pretty common. I have it myself, with an outbreak occurring every couple of years. Can herpes be spread when it’s dormant? If I had open cold sores, I wouldn’t want to even kiss someone. Let alone suck their penis. That’s just wrong. ---
**Author:** ![King\_Bobo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@King\_Bobo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Bobo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newborn-dies-after-controversial-circumcision-ritual/614865/7 "2012-03-06T00:17:13Z")
Sucking on the penis of an infant? Results in death?. Where are the offenderati when we need them??? ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newborn-dies-after-controversial-circumcision-ritual/614865/8 "2012-03-06T00:19:03Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Can herpes be spread when it’s dormant? Absolutely. Though it is usually passed via active sores, it is by no means unheard of for HSV 1 or 2 to be transmitted without the presence of an active sore. The following [CDC link](http://www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/stdfact-herpes.htm) has more: > [@CDC](#): > > HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be found in and released from the sores that the viruses cause, but they also are released between outbreaks from skin that does not appear to have a sore. Generally, a person can only get HSV-2 infection during sexual contact with someone who has a genital HSV-2 infection. Transmission can occur from an infected partner who does not have a visible sore and may not know that he or she is infected. > > HSV-1 can cause genital herpes, but it more commonly causes infections of the mouth and lips, so-called “fever blisters.” HSV-1 infection of the genitals can be caused by oral-genital or genital-genital contact with a person who has HSV-1 infection. Genital HSV-1 outbreaks recur less regularly than genital HSV-2 outbreaks. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newborn-dies-after-controversial-circumcision-ritual/614865/9 "2012-03-06T00:33:29Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > I’m too tired for the full-on rant this deserves in the Pit… This and no link? The pit just ain’t what it used be. Fuck. There’s alway MPSIMS you know. Anyway, yeah, this story is heart-breaking. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newborn-dies-after-controversial-circumcision-ritual/614865/10 "2012-03-06T02:09:11Z")
> [@Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](#): > > I believe this is the story in question. > > [http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/03/05/newborn-dies-after-contracting-herpes-from-controversial-circumcision-ritual/](http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/03/05/newborn-dies-after-contracting-herpes-from-controversial-circumcision-ritual/) Indeed it is. Sorry. I \*\*said \*\*I was tired!:smack: Please don’t let this diminish your outrage! ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newborn-dies-after-controversial-circumcision-ritual/614865/11 "2012-03-06T03:07:23Z")
> [@King\_Bobo](#): > > Sucking on the penis of an infant? Results in death?. > > Where are the offenderati when we need them??? It probably would have been safer to suck it through a paper towel roll. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newborn-dies-after-controversial-circumcision-ritual/614865/12 "2012-03-06T06:06:08Z")
> [@King\_Bobo](#): > > Sucking on the penis of an infant? Results in death?. > > Where are the offenderati when we need them??? They are nervous about the Judaism angle probably, same reason bigot rabbi’s comments about marrying outside the faith or gay marriage get ignored in the media. There is no good angle to play, and they are afraid of being called antisemitic. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newborn-dies-after-controversial-circumcision-ritual/614865/13 "2012-03-06T07:14:12Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > the infant penii . Yes, I’ll be the pedantic dick. The Latinate plural is _penes_. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newborn-dies-after-controversial-circumcision-ritual/614865/14 "2012-03-06T07:22:06Z")
> [@grude](#): > > They are nervous about the Judaism angle probably, same reason bigot rabbi’s comments about marrying outside the faith or gay marriage get ignored in the media. There is no good angle to play, and they are afraid of being called antisemitic. I think you are considerably overstating that. This is no more a common practice in the Jewish community anymore than snake handling is in the Christian. It’s an aboration, nothing more. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newborn-dies-after-controversial-circumcision-ritual/614865/15 "2012-03-06T07:32:37Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > I think you are considerably overstating that. This is no more a common practice in the Jewish community anymore than snake handling is in the Christian. It’s an aboration, nothing more. I never said it was, I know its controversial even among the ultra orthodox. How well known is that though among the general public? ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newborn-dies-after-controversial-circumcision-ritual/614865/16 "2012-03-06T08:02:57Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > I think you are considerably overstating that. This is no more a common practice in the Jewish community anymore than snake handling is in the Christian. It’s an aboration, nothing more. Aberration… But I learnt something today - never knew snake handling to be associated with Christianity. On the other hand, ritual circumcision is NOT unusual, even if this particular method is… And further, how many snake handlers’ new born infants have been killed by the practise? ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newborn-dies-after-controversial-circumcision-ritual/614865/17 "2012-03-06T09:29:26Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Aberration… yeah. um… whoops. Forgive the mispelling. But I don’t think there is a “Judaism” angle. This is just a couple of idiots. ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newborn-dies-after-controversial-circumcision-ritual/614865/18 "2012-03-06T09:34:06Z")
Please tell me that this rabbi was arrested and will face trial. And that the people who knew this poor boy were shocked and saddened to hear of his death. And that it will lead to an end to this sickening practice. Ye gods, it’s sickening enough that with all the Catholic molestation scandals that have hit in the past few years, there hasn’t even been an investigation (unless it’s been kept completely hush-hush, which I rather doubt). At least there’s the possibility that the victims will eventually live to see justice…because they weren’t KILLED. And that’s all I’m asking for here, some simple justice. Not a revenge killing, not an end to religion, not a ban on all medical procedures on infants. Just some reassurance that if someone takes a completely unnecessary risk with the health of another who has absolutely no choice in the matter, and it turns out to be fatal, there will be serious consequences. And that there _everyone_ understands in no uncertain terms that it’s a terrible, stupid, needless tragedy with no possible justification. Please, please, please tell me that this hasn’t become too much to ask. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newborn-dies-after-controversial-circumcision-ritual/614865/19 "2012-03-06T10:08:45Z")
> [@DKW](#): > > Please tell me that this rabbi was arrested and will face trial. I sincerely wish I could. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newborn-dies-after-controversial-circumcision-ritual/614865/20 "2012-03-06T10:29:23Z")
I studied it on my own the last time I read a circumcision thread, and I can’t see anything sexual in the practice. But still, it’s disgustingly unhygienic. Why can’t they use a catheter and suck on the end of it, or something? It’s unfair to the child that he had to die because of this shit. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newborn-dies-after-controversial-circumcision-ritual/614865.md?page=2)