trying to get this back on track......
why is the U.S. the last country to circumcise the majority of male infants? (this is almost not the case as it is almost 50/50 now) but let's just consider why. all other similar countries have gone to national healthcare systems, as such these healthcare systems are very heavy on weighing costs verse benefits and not paying for religious reasons but only if there is a medical need, as such none cover circumcision (from the countries I've looked at) so the procedure never gets done
In the U.S. hospitals depend on getting as much out of each insured patient as they can, If we consider that a hospital gets $500 for each circumcision and let's say they circumcise three boys a day average that's $1,500/day or $547,500/year for a procedure that takes a few minutes, the patient is given no real pain management/anesthesia and the patient cannot sue. that is a lot of easy money and this does not even include the bonus money the hospitals get for selling the foreskins to skincare companies (see link at bottom)
when medicare dropped coverage for circumcisions in many states circumcision rates dropped with it, if the doctors and hospitals really felt it was beneficial they would have made it affordable. insurance companies are starting to drop it and sadly parents will then look at it harder. If an insurance company will pay for it then they assume it must be beneficial, but when they don't only then will some people truly look into it
a few articles to on the subject
circumcision risks may exceed risks associated with circumcision: in summary the American Cancer society feels the risks of genital damage for life to an infant exceed the small risk of penile cancer 60 years later
Uterine and Penile Cancer and Circumcision of the Penis
a paper on Google's knowledge system about how circumcision affects human behavior
Circumcision and Human Behavior - a knol by George Hill
religious circumcision needs child consent
Religious circumcision needs child consent, charity says | World news | guardian.co.uk
skin cream made from cut foreskins
Foreskin Face Cream and Other Beauty Products of the Future | Environment | AlterNet