Do i have the right to be excused from being present during circumcision?

[PCT_Nat]

Hello everybody, I'm looking for advice, so please be understanding and i want to warn before hand that i am not here to start a debate.

here is my problem: I found out that during our nursing classes we will be working in neonatal unit and part of the learning will be being present during circumcision.

I want to ask my instructors to be excused from that, but i'm afraid i will get a "no".

circumcision is very traumatic for me emotionally, especially after learning everything that i know about it. I can deal with death, i can deal with pain for a good cause, but there is nothing i can change about the way i feel about cirumcision.

I never impose my views on anyone, i just don't want to see it again, because the last time i saw it i was upset for months and to this day i can not for get it - it's been 3 years.

For those who can not understand my position - picture yourself training to be a nurse in Africa were FGM is a common practice in some cultures.

Well, enough said.

Please, advice me what is the best way i can bring up this issue during my upcoming interview with a nursing staff member and if someone knows anything about NY laws, i would greatly appreciate your advice.

thanks. Nat

[mattsmom81]

Originally posted by PCT_Nat

I really couldn't believe my eyes after reading your posts - Shay and Mattsmom.

First, you insult me by saying that I'm biased and have a presonal agenda, now you think i need mental help, that I have control isues, and ALL of this is thrown in my face simply because I don't want to wittenss circumcision?

Please, stop analysing me, it is not your place.

I would like to inform you that most circumcisions in america are done for non-religious reasons. The reasons are:

- everyone does it

- to look like daddy

- intact member is dirty

- it looks ugly

- my child will be made fun of in school

there are such organizations as doctors against circumcision, nurses for the right of the child, etc where people feel exactly the same way I do about circumcision . Are these people also insane, with control issues and personal agenda?

There are doctors who refuse to perform circumcisions, does that make them unprofessional?

I just don't understand why do u feel so strongly that my personal beliefs will reflect on my professional behavior. Does your belief in cirumcision make you biased? What makes you so sure that I would impose my personal judgement on to a person making the decision to circumcise?

I am sure u know nurses/doctors who are against abortion and are able to provide care and support to people who choose to do it.

My stand is not about a "person", but about the whole aspect of practice of circumcision, religious issues aside. Foreskin is not a desease, it is not a disorder and it should be treated as such, this is why it is not like any other procedure.

Nat, nobody called you insane, but your post shows your true feelings and you do have an agenda if I read correctly.... By all means avoid this experience if you can. The fact that instructors allow students to avoid unpleasant duties is a whole 'nuther thread for me....LOL! No wonder so much reality shock sets in for the poor new grads...

Believe me: if this circ stuff is bothering you THIS MUCH then you may have serious issues with 'things to come' in this profession of mine...

[Agnus]

We cannot read anyone's mind and we don't see or hear each other as we speak, here. All we have to go by is the words on the screen before us.

I mentioned anestetia because I knew very well that I do not know were Nat is comming from. I threw it out as information incase that was the primary concern. We do medicate post op with tylenol for the pain after. But if this is not the concern then this information can just be ignored.

I believe other sugestions and remarks were made with the same lack of knowledge. All we know is what was written. You apparently chose to leave a lot out and continue to do so.

It appears offence has been taken at any suggestion or thought contrary to getting out of this school asignment. No one here is pretending to have the answer. We are only trying to help.

We are answering the best we can with what information we have been given.:stone

To paraphrase the Bard, "me thinks," somone here, "doth protest too much."

[PCT_Nat]

Sharon and Teshiee, I have been researching circumcision extensively for 4 years. Before that time i really had no knowelege about it and i didn't really care, but when i started looking into it farther, because I was faced with making a decision towards the fate of my own child. It seemed like the little snowball of information turned into a mountain.

I've also been visiting circumcision/inact support group for 3 years and there were many people like yourselves regretting the procedure, simply because they weren't given enough information prior to the child's birth. I'm sure u were never told that it poses certain risks and it is not until recently APP agreed that circumcision is painful and requested anaesthesia to be administered.

I'm sorry that this happened to you and if it's any comfort - u were only trying to do what was best for your sons.

Cultural influence is the biggest pull on our decisions medical or non-medical and it's impossible to deny that.

Thank you to eveyone who tried to help me with my question.