(F)requently (A)sked (Q)uestions

1. Who is behind this blog?

This blog was started by a lawyer from San Francisco in December of 2006 shortly after American researchers announced results of two studies that set out to prove the procedure reduced the risk of HIV infection.

2. What is its purpose?

The purpose is to sort through the claims of researchers primarily from the United States who have recently made claims that male circumcision "prevents" or reduces the risk of HIV infection in populations where the primary mode of transmission is heterosexual intercourse. It is also to respond to public health policy makers, reporters, and circumcision advocates who have used the epidemic of HIV/AIDS to promote the practice in inappropriate populations.

3. Who pays for it?

The cost of domain registration, hosting, and other actual expenses is borne entirely by donations. The cost in time to review articles, papers, and books, and write and edit entries is unpaid.

4. Who writes the posts?

At the moment, the founder of the blog, David Wilton, is the only author of entries. Guest authors will be added as candidates accept an extended invitation to write for the blog or come forward to offer their editorial skill. Adrienne Soti has provided research assistance and monitoring of the media.

5. Why haven't you responded to my email?

We respond to all emails. David Wilton will not respond to emails except to those directed to the (semi-)official email address on the website. He has another email address on his law office website that is easy enough to find. However, that address is for the sole use of his law practice. He deletes emails and then blocks the sender of said emails on the subject of male circumcision and HIV. Readers that wish to debate a specific point brought up in a blog post are encouraged to do so in the comments. Such a debate will not be entertained privately in email exchanges as the purpose of this blog is to be a public health policy blog with an emphasis on the public.

6. Are you against circumcision?

No. However, we believe that circumcision is a special case in surgical treatments as it entails a cosmetic and sexual change in the body that cannot be reversed. Our intent is to discuss the wisdom of promoting circumcision inappropriately or unethically to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS. We oppose circumcision where informed consent is unavailable or not possible and where said consent fails to address the issue of damage or injury to the penis and loss of sexual function and sensation. We support a man's inherent right to refuse both circumcision and medical treatment generally (autonomy). Where consent is freely given with full disclosure of the procedure's limitations and costs, we do not oppose the practice for cosmetic purposes or perceived health benefits. Based on the forgoing issues of consent and autonomy, we believe infant circumcision is never justified.

7. Do you accept that the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)?

Yes. We believe the research that shows AIDS is caused by HIV. We have accepted this truth from the founding of this website, and the authors have always accepted that HIV is the cause of AIDS.

8. What is your position viz. HIV/AIDS prevention and management?

We support the proven methods of HIV prevention that have been used to successfully stem the spread of the disease in such diverse countries as Brazil, Thailand, and the high risk communities of developed countries in Europe and North America. These methods are wide distribution of condoms, widespread testing, needle exchange, encouragement of open discussion on sero-status before and after sexual encounters, drug abuse treatment and prevention efforts, and freely available and accessible treatment options that have proven so effective at stemming infection in their own right.

9. Why a blog?

Prior to starting this blog, there was no regularly updated blog on the issue of male circumcision. Frankly, the factual issues were pretty well represented and discussed in more static websites. When HIV and circumcision began to be linked and promoted, it seemed like the right time to begin an ongoing discussion of the type that is really well-suited for blogging.

FAQ vers. 0.1.5 [updated 7/24/2007]