American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Bioethics on circumcision: In February 1995 the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Bioethics released a statement on 'Informed Consent, Parental Permission, an Assent in Pediatric Practice.' Unfortunately, this committee's re-analysis and redefining of these concepts put them at odds with the Academy's position on neonatal circumcision. The concept of informed consent does not now apply, because only a competent person can give consent (informed or otherwise), and an infant clearly is not competent. For the same reason patient assent does not apply. Finally, the concept of informed parental permission cannot apply because informed parental permission, according to the Committee on Bioethics, allows for medical interventions only in situations of clear and immediate medical necessity, such as disease, trauma, or deformity. Routine neonatal circumcision satisfies none of these requirements. If none of these categories are appropriate for routine neonatal circumcision, can a parent legally give permission for this procedure to be performed upon their son before he attains the age of reason? The committee suggests that in non-essential treatments, which could be deferred without substantial risk, that the physician and family wait until the child's consent could be obtained. The guardians of children do make decisions for the medical care of their children. On the other hand, routine, infant, male circumcision is not really a medical issue inasmuch as the alleged medical benefits have proven mostly specious and inasmuch as what minimal, medical benefit there may be is offset by the risks and disadvantages. Infant, male circumcision as practiced here in the United States is, rather, a parental preference or cultural issue. In addition, infant, male circumcision violates the AAP's Committee on Bioethics statement regarding consent. An adult cannot rightfully give consent for an elective surgical procedure that can be put off and for which the child might not give consent were he given the choice in the future. In February 1995 the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Bioethics released a statement on 'Informed Consent, Parental Permission, an Assent in Pediatric Practice.' The concept of informed consent does not now apply, because only a competent person can give consent (informed or otherwise), and an infant clearly is not competent. For the same reason patient assent does not apply. Finally, the concept of informed parental permission cannot apply because informed parental permission, according to the Committee on Bioethics, allows for medical interventions only in situations of clear and immediate medical necessity, such as disease, trauma, or deformity. Routine neonatal circumcision satisfies none of these requirements.