Brooklyn DA investigates baby death from herpes following circumcision

[Renew Deal]

The Brooklyn district attorney is investigating the death of a 2-week-old baby boy following a complication with his circumcision.

The district attorney’s office confirmed yesterday that they are looking into the Sept. 28 death of the infant, who died at Maimonides Hospital after he reportedly contracted the herpes virus during an ultra-Orthodox Jewish bris.

According to the medical examiner, the baby died of Type 1 herpes virus, which is oral herpes that causes sores around the mouth and lips.

A bris is a Jewish ceremony where a baby boy is circumcised. In an Orthodox tradition that city officials said is uncommon, a rabbi or “mohel” draws blood from the circumcised penis with his mouth. The custom is known as "metzitzah b’peh," or "suction by mouth."
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The family of the baby who passed away, however, is not cooperating with authorities, according to the Daily News.
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http://www.metro.us/newyork/local/article/1118751--brooklyn-da-investigates-baby-death-from-herpes-following-circumcision

Barbarian ritual mutilation of boys continues.

[HopeHoops]

1. Um, isn't that pedophilia?

[longship]

2. Arrest the idiot

No first amendment rights here. This is clear cut reckless endangerment resulting in death.

Why won't somebody in that community speak out about this outrage?

The guy belongs in jail. No ifs, ands, or buts.

[Lawlbringer]

3. The Ultra-Orthodox community in Brooklyn

is very tight lipped about a lot of stuff that they really ought to be outraged about. You think the Catholic Church has a big conspiracy going, take a look at what happens here. The rest of us only hear murmurings, and it's hard to sift through a lot of racism and ignorance, but I've heard from some people who left the community that there are sickos in every other household. Rabbi or otherwise.

[cleanhippie]

4. Sorry, this is a deeply held religious belief, and is therefore protected behavior.

[longship]

5. Apparently the jerk knows about his herpes

And still does the mouth on the foreskin and penis thing. Furthermore, he's infected multiple babies in the past few months.

Sorry, there's no religious exemption for that.

He belongs in the dock and if convicted, jail.

[cleanhippie]

6. Apparently there is a religious exemption for that.

There are many religious exemptions for things that seem like common sense.


Until we end ALL of these ludicrous exemptions, we have to allow them all.

[longship]

7. Are you implying...

...that if I revive the Aztec religions I would be allowed to sacrifice a human every day to insure that the sun would rise in the morning and the law couldn't touch me?

That's ludicrous, and so is your claim. There is no religious freedom to endanger the life of a child any more than there is for Aztec sacrifices. The principle is the same in both cases.

That bum belongs in jail and the first amendment isn't gonna save him. I pray --- so to speak.

[cleanhippie]

8. You seem to think I am arguing against your point. I'm not.

I'm pointing out the hypocrisy of a system that allows for people to cry "freedom of religion" in order to cower the voices of dissent and paint them as intolerant.

[longship]

9. Okay, I was merely addressing your claim...

...that there would be a religious exemption. My claim is that there clearly is not.

And I agree with you on all your other points.

[BlueIris]

10. Normally, I stay out of these threads.

But this is a horrifying story.

Glad there's an investigation.