Correspondent:

JOHN DOSSETOR HEALTH ETHICS CENTRE
University of Alberta

I would like to raise questions in regard to a circumcision pain study that was carried out at the University of Alberta. I was wondering if you could tell me what role The John Dossetor Health Care Ethics Centre played, if any, in reviewing or approving this study.

Since one of the goals of the John Dossetor Health Ethics Centre is to increase awareness of bioethical issues in health care, I was also wondering if you could outline for me in general terms the ethical principles that underlie the practice of coercive, non-therapeutic circumcision.

I enclose a copy of a letter I have written to Dr. Janice Lander, who headed the study. I would appreciate hearing your thoughts on this matter.

Sincerely,
 
[signed]
 
D ennis H arrison
 

cc:

Dr. Margaret A. Somerville, Founding Director, McGill Centre for Medicine, Ethics and Law