Reply to letter to the Editor: Tracing the origins of circumcision

Dr. Moreton has placed many contentious arguments regarding circumcision. I agree with him that tracing the origins of this ancient procedure is not an easy task; however, the exercise is not completely irrelevant to modern medical practice. Circumcision is the only surgical operation that is either passionately patronized or vehemently condemned — not only by laity but also by medical practitioners [1]. Influence of lobbying groups is such that even the medical literature is more often distorted [2] as it is evident from frequent reversal of policy recommendations by professional bodies such as American Academy of Pediatrics [3].