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Finnish Court Imposes Damages on Parents for Son's Circumcision Without Anesthetic

By Howard M. Friedman

A district court in Helsinki, Finland has imposed damages of 1500 Euros on an Orthodox Jewish couple who had their son ritually circumcised by a British Chabad rabbi who is a recognized mohel in Britain. The damages are payable to their son for pain and suffering. London's Jewish Chronicle reported yesterday on the proceedings brought by the Helsinki prosecutor who wanted the court to rule that only physicians could perform circumcisions. However instead the court found the parents guilty of conspiracy to commit bodily harm because the procedure was performed without use of an anesthetic-- a common practice because of complications with anesthetic creams or injections. The case was instituted after the parents took the child to Helsinki University Hospital because of excessive bleeding. The boy was treated by Dr. Harry Lindahl, a well-known campaigner against circumcision. Despite the victory, the prosecutor is expected to appeal because the court did not prohibit non-physicians from performing circumcisions. [Thanks to Joel Katz (Relig. & State in Israel) for the lead.]

Full post as published by Religion Clause on February 26, 2010 (boomark / email).