New York: want 'Metzitza' at a Bris? Sign a document

A medical committee in New York suggests that parents who are interested to have Metzitza by mouth during the Bris for their son, will have to sign a document in which they declare that they are aware of the health hazard which is involved.

As known, about a week ago, the person in charge of health in New York announced that one should not perform the procedure of Metzitza by mouth, with the claim that it might risk the life of the baby, to the point of death.

The suggestion, which was published in the New York Times, claims that the Mohel will have to sign the parents of the baby on the aforesaid form, in which the medical dangers in such a Metzitza are explained – starting from contagious diseases to the point of risking the life of the newborn.

In the health department of the state, they claimed that the main problem is found in those Bris Milah's which the Hareidi public performs. According to estimation, more than 3,000 babies a year are circumcised each year in such a way.

The public discussion on the topic rose after it was published that between the years of 2000 and 2011, 11 babies were infected with herpes, because of Metziza by mouth, 2 of them were brain damaged severely, and two died.

Last week, after the announcement of the person in charge of health that he recommends to refrain from Metzitza by mouth, the health department also published that in a long series of hospitals in New York, an explanatory pamphlet will be handed out.

In the past, the vice president of Agudas Yisroel warned that supervision of the procedure might cause it to become underground – and thereby turn it into a more dangerous one.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!