'Infant's death at Maimonides Hospital linked to circumcision'

Infant's death at Maimonides Hospital linked to circumcision
Unidentified infant died in September of 2011 after contracting herpes

By Thomas Zambito / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Saturday, March 3, 2012, 12:11 PM



An infant, not pictured, in Brooklyn died after contracting herpes through a religious circumcision ritual.


A two-week old boy died at a Brooklyn hospital in September after contracting herpes through a religious circumcision ritual that ignited controversy in 2005 after another infant died, the Daily News has learned.

The unidentified infant died Sept. 28, 2011, at Maimonides Hospital, according to a spokeswoman for the city Medical Examiner, who confirmed the death after a News inquiry.

The cause of death was listed as “disseminated herpes simplex virus Type 1, complicating ritual circumcision with oral suction.”

City officials declined to comment Friday.

It’s unclear who performed the circumcision.

In 2004, city health officials revealed that a baby boy died after a circumcision carried out by a Rockland County rabbi who specializes in the centuries-old, ultra-Orthodox ritual known as metzizah b’ peh.

Under the practice, the rabbi or mohel removes blood from the wound with his mouth — a practice city health officials have criticized, saying it carried “inherent risks” for babies.

In 2004, three infants circumcised by Rabbi Yitzchok Fischer were determined to have contracted herpes, city officials said.

Among them were twins circumcised in October 2004 after Fischer performed the religious ceremony known as a bris.

Suzi wrote:The baby died of the herpes that causes cold sores. I didn't even know that one could catch cold sores until a few years ago when a neighbors toddler got sick, had sores all over the inside of her mouth because her father kissed her on the mouth while he had a cold sore and infected her.

Makes me glad I never allowed anyone myself included to kiss my babies on the mouth. One ended up getting cold sores,I don't know how she got them. The other 2 have never had one and neither have I.

Suzi wrote:Well how was I supposed to know, my husband gets them all the time and I have never had one, I never refused to kiss him.

Under the practice, the rabbi or mohel removes blood from the wound with his mouth

RobbieFTW wrote:

What???????
Call me ignorant but i didnt even know the rabbis were the ones who did the circ let alone removing blood from the babies with their effin MOUTHS. That sounds pedoish to me. I couldnt care less about circumcision in general but imo ONLY a doc. should do it, not a baby dick suckin rabbi.

RIP little guy.