New Hampshire lawmakers scrutinize ethics of infant circumcision and foreskin sales by hospitals

During a recent meeting of the New Hampshire House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee, significant concerns were raised regarding the ethical implications of infant circumcision and the sale of foreskin tissue by hospitals. The discussions centered around allegations that hospitals are not adequately informing parents about the financial incentives tied to circumcision procedures, particularly in low-income communities where Medicaid is often used for coverage.

One speaker highlighted the troubling practice of hospitals selling foreskins to for-profit companies, specifically naming Oregon Organogenesis. This practice raises serious ethical questions, as it involves performing a painful procedure on infants without proper informed consent from parents. The speaker emphasized that many parents may not be aware that the foreskin, removed during circumcision, is being sold for profit, which they argued constitutes a conflict of interest for hospitals that are supposed to provide care and medical advice.

Committee members expressed their alarm over the lack of transparency in these procedures. Representative Woods questioned whether parents are being informed about the sale of foreskin tissue, to which the speaker confirmed that they are not. The discussion also touched on the broader implications of circumcision practices, with some members advocating for a reevaluation of public funding for what they termed "medically unnecessary" procedures.

Another speaker, Anthony Losquadro, representing the Health Quality Campaign, urged the committee to support legislation against non-therapeutic infant circumcision. He presented evidence from various medical associations, including the Canadian Pediatric Society, which does not recommend routine circumcision for newborn males. Losquadro argued that the practice is not only unnecessary but also carries risks of complications, which could lead to additional healthcare costs.

The meeting concluded with a call for further examination of these practices and the potential need for legislative action to ensure that parents are fully informed about the implications of circumcision and the sale of foreskin tissue. The committee plans to continue discussions on this critical issue, emphasizing the importance of ethical standards in medical practices involving children.