My mother
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.
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.