New York approves tougher regulations on circumcision

New York City's Jewish ritual circumcisers who use their mouths to draw away blood from the wound on a baby's penis must now get the parents to sign a consent form, health officials said on Thursday.

The New York City Board of Health voted unanimously in favor the new regulation, citing the risk that infants could catch a potentially deadly herpes infection through the ancient ritual.

The decision to amend the city's health code has angered some members of the city's Orthodox Jewish communities, who say it is an unwarranted intrusion by the government on religious freedom.

But city health officials say at least 11 infant boys contracted herpes between 2004 and 2011 in New York, most likely caused by a mohel, or ritual circumciser, using his mouth to suck away blood following circumcision.

The practice is common only in certain ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities.

Two of the boys died and two others suffered brain damage and that is what prompted the rule change, health officials said.

Under the amendment, the mohel must get a signed consent form from a parent or legal guardian of an infant before performing the circumcision. The form will state that the health department advises parents that "direct oral suction should not be performed" because of the herpes risk.

Facts On Circumcision Due to the recurring subject matter of all the questions I receive, I have reached the conclusion that man's best friend is his penis. All men want to know is how to get it to work better and how to get it to look better.

On that note, this week's Q&A is going to focus solely on the subject of adult circumcision - the risks, the benefits and the purpose.

We're all aware of the general idea behind circumcision: It's the process by which the foreskin is removed from the penis. This is usually performed a day or two after birth for religious, cosmetic or hygienic purposes. Some men, however, make the personal choice to undergo this process in adulthood. Here are some of the most common questions I receive from men who are toying with the idea of going under the knife.

Mohelim, as the circumcisers are called in Hebrew, who do not comply could receive a warning letter from the department or a fine of up to $2,000. The department said it would not actively monitor mohelim, and would investigate only if a parent complains or if it learned of cases of neonatal herpes that are believed to have followed a circumcision.

Speaking before the board voted, Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said it was "a very difficult issue" but that the department had tried to be as un-intrusive as possible by leaving the ultimate decision about whether to follow the practice with mohelim and parents.

Is the foreskin important? The penis has a foreskin for a reason. Its main function is to protect the glans (tip of the penis) from injury or infection. Also, during intercourse, the foreskin glides over the glans, giving you heightened sensitivity. Finally, the foreskin secretes immunological substances that help fight infection.