For the top ten list of odd things I’ve learned conducting research for my book: according to my father, my mother, who admittedly is a doctor (but not a surgeon), “assisted” on my circumcision.
Please, please, please, please, please let him be lying, misremembering, or just plain wrong.
Published by Theodore
Theodore Ross is an editor of Harper’s Magazine. His writing has appeared in Harper’s, Saveur, Tin House, the Mississippi Review, and (of course), the Vietnam News. He grew up in New York City by way of Gulfport, MS, and as a teen played the evil Nazi, Toht, in Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation. He lives with his son, J.P. in Brooklyn, and is currently working on a book about Crypto-Jews.
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Surgeons aren’t required to do a circumcision. OB GYNs do circ’s and happen to be surgeons, as well as urologists. But pediatricians and neonatologists do circs as well (not trained surgeons) and I believe MDs can do them as well. Really, anyone in the US who goes through medical school (nurses included) witness at least one circ.
And that is pretty freaking sick. I wouldn’t let anyone else do it to my son, let alone ‘assist’ in the procedure. I can’t even imagine.
I should really point out that the majority of circs are done by residents, especially in teaching hospitals. It’s considered grunt work most places… and really increases the likelihood of a botched circ. Although I personally think ALL circs are botched.. the penis is better left alone.
Sconi: I should point out I’m awaiting confirmation from my mother on that story. It was 38 years ago, mind you, so maybe my father has it wrong. I will say it gets no less weird if my mother was there as a “witness,” but who am I to judge? As for circumcision, well, I suppose I’m a little reluctant to accept feedback on pecker esthetics from a women I’ve never met (and perhaps not a Jewish one?), but we’re each entitled to our opinion, I suppose. –Theodore.
Surgeons aren’t required to do a circumcision. OB GYNs do circ’s and happen to be surgeons, as well as urologists. But pediatricians and neonatologists do circs as well (not trained surgeons) and I believe MDs can do them as well. Really, anyone in the US who goes through medical school (nurses included) witness at least one circ.
And that is pretty freaking sick. I wouldn’t let anyone else do it to my son, let alone ‘assist’ in the procedure. I can’t even imagine.
I should really point out that the majority of circs are done by residents, especially in teaching hospitals. It’s considered grunt work most places… and really increases the likelihood of a botched circ. Although I personally think ALL circs are botched.. the penis is better left alone.
Sconi: I should point out I’m awaiting confirmation from my mother on that story. It was 38 years ago, mind you, so maybe my father has it wrong. I will say it gets no less weird if my mother was there as a “witness,” but who am I to judge? As for circumcision, well, I suppose I’m a little reluctant to accept feedback on pecker esthetics from a women I’ve never met (and perhaps not a Jewish one?), but we’re each entitled to our opinion, I suppose. –Theodore.