Re: Metzitzah b'peh

In article <dqlt2j$5i1$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Steve Goldfarb" <slg@xxxxxxxxx> writes:
> In <dqlrfg$sji$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> backon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
>
>>In article <dqkda9$sqn$4@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Steve Goldfarb" <slg@xxxxxxxxx> writes:
>>> In <dqk93o$3gm$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> backon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
>>>
>>> [other issues snipped]
>>>
>>> Josh - as a doctor and a halachic expert: is mitzitzah b'peh safe?
>>>
>
>>With regard to AIDS: the virus is poorly transmittable by saliva.
>>With regard to other viruses (and for that matter tuberculosis):
>>the procedure could be quite dangerous.
>
>>All halachic authorities forbid a Mohel with a contagious disorder
>>to perform MBP. The entire raison d'etre of MBP is a health issue
>>(to prevent infection). Using a glass pipette and using suction to
>>remove the blood is a perfectly valid halachically and medically
>>mandated.
>
>>The only other option (which isn't feasible) is to have the Mohel
>>tested EVERY DAY for a variety of viral titers in the blood. Then,
>>and only then, would the risks involved in oral MPB be reduced to
>>practically zero.
>
>>Then there's my technical solution: there is a device (which my
>>electronics company [which I run as a sideline] happens to
>>manufacture at a cost (to us) of about $60 that could probably
>>solve any problem of bacterial or viral transmission. MPB could
>>then be carried out without any problem whatsoever.
>
>>Josh
>
> Thank you, Josh. Frankly, given this response, I don't see how anyone can
> possibly say "the parents should be allowed to do whatever they want."
>


Parents are not permitted to endanger the lives of their children.
The halacha (Shulchan Aruch YOREH DEAH 240:20) is specific. It is forbidden
to physically abuse a child. The commentary BIRCHEI YOSEF quotes a
Chidushei HaRITVA that states that this prohibition is not only toward an
older child (22-24) but even one younger than 13.






> One more point - a key issue with the herpes virus specifically is that it
> is intermittently dormant and then infectious. So, someone's saliva could


Precisely !


> easily be negative today and positive tomorrow. Also, in adults the
> infection often has no symptoms, so a person would very likely not realize
> that they're contagious.
>



That's why I indicated that the Mohel would have to be tested EVERY SINGLE
DAY (see my post).

> For the record, if your device (or any device) could be shown to be
> effective, then I'd have no further objection to the practice. Not that my
> opinion matters because it really isn't about me, it's about the babies.
>

We did test a very early version at the Clinical Microbiology Unit at
the hospital in 1996 and at the anaerobic chamber at the oral
microbiology unit at the dental school. The version we have today is
literally 600 times more powerful (this version costs us about $160 to
manufacture) but you could also use the el-cheapo $30 model.

Josh

> --s
> --
>
.

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