All latest critiques of Morris below:
When you have a Professor of Microbiology setting up a website (circinfo.net) which promotes male circumcision and is constantly in the media promoting circumcision, and even attacking the Royal Australasian College of Physicians for Refusing to Recommend infant male circumcision in Australia, it is important to ask whether this person has any credibility or authority in the area of circumcision. However, when arguing or debating a topic it is important to not rely on Ad Homminem personal attacks as your sole argument. I do believe that it is important to question someone's credibility when they claim expertise in an area, and particularly when this expertise is questionable. IN this case I do not believe questioning someone's credibility is an Ad Hominem attack. In the area of Molecular Biology Prof Brian Morris has legitimate qualifications and credibility, that is not in question here. What is in question however, is whether a Professor of Molecular Biology has any authority to speak on Infant Child Health, in particular circumcision.
I will argue that it is legitimate to attack Brian Morris credibility as an authority on circumcision and child health, because of the biased claims he makes in favour of infant circumcision, and the lack of qualifications he has to make these claims. Firstly, He is a professor of Molecular Biology and not a Pediatrician, nor a Medical Doctor, nor a Urologist. In Australia the leading authority on Child health matters is the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) and Prof Morris is not a member of the RACP. For more than 2 Decades now the RACP has recommended against routine infant male circumcision and that it is not required in an Australain context. Yet Brian Morris an Academic from the University of Sydney who's specialty is Molecular Biology continues to recommend routine infant circumcision, in spite of the RACP's recommendations against it. I would argue that he is neither a practitioner nor expert in the area of male genital health or child infant health, and therefore he is unqualified to make recommendations on infant male circumcision.
Historically, and well documented, Prof Morris's behaviour has been found to be totally in favor of circumcision and against anything that is anti-circumcision, and therefore I would argue he is not impartial. Info below.
Latest critique in 2017:
http://www.circinfo.org/news_2017.html
The latest critique of Brian Morris 11/06/14 in the Skeptic : http://www.skeptic.org.uk/magazine/onlinearticles/articlelist/711-infant-circumcision
Prof Pringle critique of Morris in 2014:
http://www.circinfo.org/news_2014.html#crazy
http://www.circinfo.org/news_2014.html#pbm
This is a critique of Morris published 02/05/14:
http://circwatch.org/circumcision-lies-and-fetishism-at-the-university-of-sydney/
Another Critique of Morris' work 11/04/14: http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/04/11/should-you-circumcise-your-child/
Read This 2013 critique of Brian Morris in the Journal of Medical Ethics: http://jme.bmj.com/content/early/2013/08/16/medethics-2013-101614.abstract/reply#medethics_el_16775
Sept 2013, the most recent and excellent critique of Morriss's qualifications and credibility: http://joseph4gi.blogspot.ca/2013/09/australia-circumcision-debate.html
In Aug 2013 Morris published a paper regarding circumcison and sexual satisfaction, read a critical review of that paper here: http://circleaks.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/does-male-circumcision-affect-sexual.html
Here is a critic of Morris's circumcision advocacy and his war on the foreskin: http://intactivistsofaustralasia.wordpress.com/2013/09/09/minority-reporter-how-brian-morris-fought-a-personal-war-against-the-human-foreskin-and-how-he-lost/
Most recently Morris was called a bully in response to a peer review journal criticism. The reseach by Morten Frisk found circumcision harmful to both male & female sexuality and Morris tried to have this research banned from publication, and used bullying tactics to try and achieve this. http://www.circinfo.org/Circumcision_and_sexual_function.html
Also Recently, Brian Morris, & colleagues Cooper & Wodek were found to have Mis-represented the circumcision rates in Australia, claiming in the Australian Medical Journal that current circumcision rates had reached 19% for Australia, when in fact Medicare statistics show current circumcision rates have never exceeded 13% for the whole of Australia. The 19% figure comes from one state of Australia (NSW), how do 3 highly intelligent men make such a basic error of reporting? Makes one wonder when the obsession for infant circumcision is so strong, that maybe perceptions are skewed??? Below is a critique found on the Circumcstitions website, well worth a read, highlights mutiple episodes of mis-representation for a man (a biochemist) who is not a pediatrician or urologist or medical doctor yet claims expertise in circumcision?
Again, recently in the Medical journal of Australia 8 letters were received which strongly criticised the proposal by Cooper, Morris, & Wodek that infant circumcision was akin to a surgical vaccine for HIV : http://www.circinfo.org/MJA_Cooper_letters.html
http://www.circinfo.org/MJA_Cooper_letters.html
His hobby-traveling to mass circumcision rituals to view and film:
Quotes from “personal” website of Brian Morris:
“I have some wonderful photographs of a group of Masai boys in their early teens that I met in Kenya in 1989 dressed in their dark circumcision robes, with white feathers as headwear, and white painted facial decoration that stood out against their very black skin.
Each wore a pendant that was the razor blade used for their own circumcision. The ceremony that they had gone through is a special part of their tribal culture and was very important to these boys, who were proud to show that they were now ‘men’. In other cultures it is associated with preparation for marriage and as a sign of entry into manhood.”
And his site links to proven circumfetish sites (and vice-versa).. and the usual testimonials present in all fetishist sites.
http://circinfo.net/ <http://circinfo.net/> http://circinfo.net/htmlnew/circumcision_sources.htm <http://circinfo.net/htmlnew/circumcision_sources.htm>
http://circinfo.net/htmlnew/author_brian_morris.htm <http://circinfo.net/htmlnew/author_brian_morris.htm>
Reviews of his book which contains info from his site–including one from the Jam and from some of his fellow Austs..
Brian Morris is a professor of Molecular Biology and hypertension-field of study at the Univ Of Sidney, Aust HE is NOT a MD nor a circumcision expert.
The Journal of Australian Medicine (1999, vol.11, no.11, p.18), which has no apparent interest in either defending or condemning circumcision, has reviewed Dr. Morris’ book and given it a thumbs down. Here’s an excerpt from that very sensible review:
“In those with a normal bladder and kidneys the argument for circumcision may be akin to suggesting prophylactic removal of the tonsils or the appendix; the latter are obviously as silly as taking seriously any study supposedly concluding that either version of the penis ‘looks better’.
Also, is the author really serious in suggesting that routine circumcision is needed to prevent zipper injury? Unfortunately, once again, a presentation on the subject of circumcision has not advanced the development of a scientific approach.”
Reviewer: A reader from Bond University Men’s Health Research Center, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia September 2, 1999 This book was reviewed (above) in “glowing terms” by a physician, who openly admits to having circumcised a large number of unconsenting minors (who happen to be boys). Consequently, he has a vested interest in promoting genital reduction surgery (erogenous foreskin amputation). Are physicians now to take their medical advice from obsessive genital cutters, rather than from recognized professional bodies? Not one national medical association anywhere in the world recommends unnecessary circumcision!
This book selectively cites outdated studies many of which have been thoroughly discredited in the scientific medical literature for decades. For example, this book states that penile cancer is reduced by circumcision. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Representatives of the American Cancer Society (Feb 16, 1996) stated that infant circumcision is not a valid or effective measure to prevent penile cancer which affects only one in 100,000 males.
The Australasian Association of Paediatric Surgeons stated (April, 1996) that “neonatal circumcision has no medical indication.”
The Queensland Law Reform Commission (Dec, 1993) stated that “routine circumcision could be regarded as a criminal act.”
The primary dictum of ethical medical practice is “First do no harm.” Yet there is now overwhelming evidence that infant circumcision causes irreparable harm physically, sexually, and psychologically.
Much of the life-long harm caused by imposed genital cutting (on unconsenting minors) is documented in the British Journal of Urology, 1999 (Vol 83, Supplement 1). Also see website: http://www.cirp.org/ <http://www.cirp.org/> listed by the British Medical Association.
Gregory J. Boyle, Ph.D Professor of Psychology and Director, Men’s Health Research Centre Bond University, Gold Coast 4229 Australia BOOK LACKS SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE AUSTRALIAN MEDICINE, 1999, Vol. 11 (No. 11), p. 18. by Professor Paddy Dewan Extract — “….[The author] understates the nature of the procedure, omits several potential complications and downplays the importance of circumcision to the income of American doctors. Also, Dr Morris omits to mention the medical treatment of phimosis, and he overstates the adverse events associated with phimosis when he states that “as a result of phimosis, males will be unable to urinate. The bladder fills up and urinary retention becomes a painful, alarming and dangerous experience”. This is a marked variance to the many boys who usually present with minimal symptoms with phimosis, which is easily treated by the application of steroid cream for four to six weeks.
“The increased risk of urinary tract infection in uncircumcised boys is probably real, but it remains arguable if the data used to support circumcision is analysed more critically. Even so, circumcision for boys with renal anomalies, that is, those having intermittent catheterisation or with immune deficiencies, is probably appropriate–these arguments are not presented in Dr Morris’ book. In those with a normal bladder and kidneys the argument for circumcision may be akin to suggesting prophylactic removal of the tonsils or the appendix; the latter are obviously as silly as taking seriously any study supposedly concluding that either version of the penis “looks better”. Also, is the author really serious in suggesting that routine circumcision is needed to prevent zipper injury?
Furthermore, he chooses to select penile cancer figures that support his argument, then proceeds to accuse the anti-circumcision group, NOCIRC, of “distortions, anecdotes and testimonials”, and Dr. Paul Fleiss of “off the wall statements” to support his case to keep the foreskin. Dr Morris then concludes, “if anything, circumcision by freeing the penis of the encumbrance of a foreskin can only serve to enhance penis size”.
“In quoting a Forum magazine study, referring to the opinion of a “Seinfeld” character and stating that “the uncircumcised man may need several showers per day”, further undermines Dr Morris’ efforts to have us take seriously the data otherwise collected. Unfortunately, once again, a presentation on the subject of circumcision has not advanced the development of a scientific approach….”
Professor Paddy Dewan is a Paediatric Urologist from the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne.
Dr. James Powell from Chicago, Illinois , October 28, 1999 A book without emotions…..or FACTS! I find it totally ridiculous that such a book exists in which the author makes his claims on completely anecdotal grounds. There are few facts presented in this book. You will not find the information you need to educate yourself about this topic in this book. If you want GOOD information from people that know what they are talking about, refer to the vast multitude of anti-circumcision facts that are on the internet, or the vast amount of more factual books available. And please avoid Mr. Morris’s own website as you will find nothing but the same delusions on it as in his book.
Dr Morris recently wrote a letter to the Medical Journal of Australia to promote circumcision.
Here is the response by the authors:
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/178_11_020603/matters_arising_020603-5.html <http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/178_11_020603/matters_arising_020603-5.html>
“The letter by Morris is more difficult to discuss as it relates, on the whole, to the use of routine circumcision, which was not the focus of our article. The issues raised by Morris seem to be at complete odds with the 2002 Policy Statement on Circumcision by the RACP — which is also consistent with the recommendations of the Canadian Paediatric Society and the American Academy of Paediatrics.4 The RACP Policy Statement reviewed most of the points raised by Morris, including urinary tract infections, STDs, human papillomavirus and carcinomas of the cervix and penis. In each case, after an extensive review of the literature, the RACP reaffirmed that there is no medical indication for routine circumcision. Morris’s view on the reduction of risk of sexual problems is at odds with the article by Darby,9 published in the same issue of the Journal as our article, and is beyond the scope of our study. His claim that circumcision improves appearance is highly subjective and unsubstantiated, and should not be used to justify the surgical removal of tissue that may have a benefit to the individual later in life”
His deceits:
Dr. Brian J. Morris, Ph.D. is a biochemist at the University of Sydney.
He has written a very pro-circumcision page on the Internet.
His page is full of errors. He frequently misrepresents his sources. Many of his sources are on the CIRP so one should go there and read them to see what they really say.
For example, Dr. Morris writes”
“In the light of an increasing volume of medical scientific evidence pointing to the benefits of neonatal circumcision a new policy statement was formulated by a working party of the Australian College of Paediatrics in August 1995 and adopted by the College in May 1996 [6]. In this document medical practitioners are now urged to fully inform parents of the benefits of having their male children circumcised.”
In reality, the Australian College of Paediatrics states:
“The College believes informed discussion with parents regarding the possible health benefits of routine male circumcision and the risks associated with the operation are essential. Up-to-date, unbiased written material summarising the evidence in plain English should be widely available to parents.”
Dr. Morris omitted risks. See
Dr. Morris originally had his pages on the departmental board at the U. of Sydney. He was forced to move his pages to the personal pages section because of professional criticism of his diatribe.
For commentary on Dr. Morris’ work please go here:
http://rainforest.parentsplace.com/dialog/get/newcircumcision19/1.html <http://rainforest.parentsplace.com/dialog/get/newcircumcision19/1.html>
The essay “Medical Benefits From Circumcision” by Brian Morris is a case study in misinformation! For example … Morris – “In the light of an increasing volume of medical scientific evidence pointing to the benefits of neonatal circumcision a new policy statement was formulated by a working party of the Australian College of Paediatrics in August 1995 and adopted by the College in May 1996. In this document medical practitioners are now urged to fully inform parents of the benefits of having their male children circumcised.”
Australian College of Paediatrics – “The College believes informed discussion with parents regarding the possible health benefits of routine male circumcision and the risks associated with the operation are essential.”
The full text can be read at http://www.nocirc.org/position/acp.html <http://www.nocirc.org/position/acp.html>
Morris says that the ACP urged that parents be fully informed of the benefits, but he totally ignores their recommendation that parents also be fully informed of the risks.
Morris – “Similar recommendations were made recently by the Canadian Paediatric Society who also conducted an evaluation of the literature, although concluded that the benefits and harms were very evenly balanced.”
Canadian Paediatric Society – “The overall evidence of the benefits and harms of circumcision is so evenly balanced that it does not support recommending circumcision as a routine procedure for newborns. There is therefore no indication that the position taken by the CPS in 1982 should be changed.”
The full text can be read at http://www.cps.ca/english/statements/FN/fn96-01.htm <http://www.cps.ca/english/statements/FN/fn96-01.htm>
In 1982 the CPS took a position against routine infant circumcision because “there are no valid medical indications for circumcision in the neonatal period.” The CPS did not change their position against RIC in 1996. Morris conveniently ignores the Canadian Paediatric Society’s opposition to routine infant circumcision.
Morris – “The American College of Pediatrics has moved far closer to an advocacy position …”
The Department of Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University has a web page that lists many pediatric organization. There is no organization called the “American College of Pediatrics”. The following are among the many organizations they list – American Academy of Pediatrics, American Pediatric Society, and American Pediatric Surgery Association.
“Pediatric Points of Interest” compiled by the Department of Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University http://www.med.jhu.edu/peds/neonatology/organ.html#Organizations <http://www.med.jhu.edu/peds/neonatology/organ.html#Organizations>
Also “American College of Pediatrics” is not listed in online phone directories.
Morris has probably confused the American College of Pediatrics with the American Academy of Pediatrics. Assuming that is what he did, let’s look at the statement, “The American Academy of Pediatrics has moved far closer to an advocacy position …”
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued statements on routine infant circumcision in 1971, 1975, 1983, and 1989.
AAP (1971) – “there are no valid medical indications for circumcision in the neonatal period.”
AAP (1975) – “there is no absolute medical indication for routine circumcision of the newborn.”
The AAP reiterated their 1975 position again in 1983.
AAP (1989) – “Newborn circumcision has potential medical benefits and advantages as well as disadvantages and risks. When circumcision is being considered, the benefits and risks should be explained to the parents and informed consent obtained.”
The full text can be read at http://www.aap.org/policy/02624.html <http://www.aap.org/policy/02624.html>
While it may be “technically” correct to say that the AAP has “moved closer to” an advocacy position, the statement by Morris is misleading because the AAP has *not* taken an advocacy position in favor of routine infant circumcision. A more correct statement would be, “The American Academy of Pediatrics has softened its opposition to routine intact circumcision.” Softening one’s opposition to a policy is not the same thing as advocating that policy.
Later in the article Morris again misrepresents the position of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Morris – “The trend not to circumcise started in the mid to late 1970s, after the American Academy of Paediatrics Committee for the Newborn stated, in 1971, that there are ‘no valid medical indications for circumcision’. In 1975 this was modified to ‘no absolute valid … ‘, which remained in the 1983 statement, but in 1989 it changed significantly to ‘New evidence has suggested possible medical benefits …’”
The sentence that Morris quotes from the 1989 AAP report is in the introduction, not the conclusion. The conclusion of the report states clearly that there are both potential medical benefits and risks. Morris does not mention the disadvantages and risk of infant circumcision. He leaves the impression that the AAP only mentions benefits.
AAP – “Newborn circumcision has potential medical benefits and advantages as well as disadvantages and risks. When circumcision is being considered, the benefits and risks should be explained to the parents and informed consent obtained.”
Actual statements by Aust Ped societies:
Australasian Association of Paediatric Surgeons. Guidelines for Circumcision. http://www.cirp.org/library/statements/aaps/ <http://www.cirp.org/library/statements/aaps/>
“The Australasian Association of Paediatric Surgeons does not support the routine circumcision of male neonates, infants or children in Australia. It is considered to be inappropriate and unnecessary as a routine to remove the prepuce, based on the current evidence available.”
“We do not support the removal of a normal part of the body, unless there are definite indications to justify the complications and risks which may arise. In particular, we are opposed to male children being subjected to a procedure, which had they been old enough to consider the advantages and disadvantages, may well have opted to reject the operation and retain their prepuce.”
“Neonatal male circumcision has no medical indication. It is a traumatic procedure performed without anaesthesia to remove a normal functional and protective prepuce. At birth, the prepuce has not separated from the underlying glans and must be forcibly torn apart to deliver the glans, prior to removal of the prepuce distal to the coronal groove.”
AMA (Aust):
The AMA will discourage circumcision of baby boys in line with the Australian College of Paediatrics’ Position Statement on Routine Circumcision of Normal Male Infants and Boys.
The statement, released in June and supported by the AMA’s November Federal Council meeting, includes: The Australian College of Paediatrics should continue to discourage the practice of circumcision in newborns.
Now if you think this man has any credibility as an unbiased objective commentator on infant circumcision–you need to think again.
Thank you for this explanation, and I concur 100%. That any adult doctor has a fetish fascination with circumcision should be automatic grounds for reassessing his mental suitability as a doctor, and subsequent banning.
ReplyDeleteThe sooner these ratbags are exposed and in jail the better.
Regards,
J Kiddle
Hi Blog master, I'd like to be in contact with you to discuss effective action against this man, I'm at oryx888@yahoo.com thank you J
ReplyDeleteI'd rather stay anonymous myself, My advice is to take legal & ethical steps to fight Brian Morris in everyway you can.
DeleteWell written. Brian Morris is a most bias and least credible person on the matter of infant circumcision. He should be criminally charged for his lies and misrepresentation.
ReplyDeleteHow does he get away with it? The man is a perverted fraud masquerading as an 'expert'.
ReplyDeleteI find it incredible that he continues to spout lies and misleading information - presumably protected by this thin veneer of respectability that his title 'Professor' offers him.
A great article highlighting his dubious and unethical ways - let's hope he gets locked up and totally discredited soon.
He's managed to blast his most recent "study" all over the English speaking world today.
ReplyDeleteHe's being referred to in the US press as 'Dr. Morris", and none of the reporters are making it clear he's not an M.D. He's being put forward as a "leading researcher from Australia". There's no opposing view in most of these reports.
He's now claiming that penile cancer is twenty times more common in the uncircumcised. No one is fact-checking these claims.
He's claiming that he has "research" (his own) which conclusively proves no loss of sexual function or enjoyment.
It's nuts. He just makes the claims and they just say "thank you".
I recall watching a video of Morris debating a physician on this issue a number of years ago. After Morris finished his diatribe and it was the physician's turn, I wish the physician had said. "The viewers must keep in mind that Professor Morris is not a physician and is thus not constrained by the profession's standards to be truthful. If I veer too far from the truth I can be sued for malpractice or lose my license to practice medicine. Professor Morris can say whatever he pleases without threat to his livelihood."
ReplyDeleteI've also noticed that all the testimonials on his website are written in the same tone, same style of speech, even though its claimed these are from men all over the world. He's typed them himself.
ReplyDelete