Newborn Dead After Botched Circumcision At Home, Investigation Underway

A newborn boy died Wednesday following a botched circumcision attempt in Italy, local media reported. The incident took place near the port city of Genoa.

The child's 25-year-old Nigerian mother and his grandmother called for emergency medical help following the procedure at home. By the time medical personnel arrived at the scene, the baby had already died, authorities said.

“The events took place overnight. The two women have been taken in for questioning by police amid suspicions that a third person attempted the circumcision," local ANSA news agency quoted a source.

Authorities are checking the mother and grandmother's phone records to trace the third suspect. An investigation into alleged manslaughter is underway in the case, which is the second such death in a few weeks in Italy.

Italy’s Roman Catholic majority does not practice circumcision but many immigrants in the country are Muslims and perform the procedures for religious and cultural reasons. However, some Muslims choose to perform the procedure at home to save money. Around 35 percent of circumcisions in Italy are believed to take place in people’s homes.

According to Mustafa Qaddurah, a pediatrician and representative of the Islamic Centre of Rome, who spoke to ANSA, “the only solution" to the problem is for the state to pay for the procedure.

In March, a five-month-old boy died following a circumcision done by parents at their home in Italy. The baby suffered cardiac arrest and was rushed to a hospital in Bologna, where he died shortly afterward. The prosecutor's office in the province of Reggio Emilia launched an investigation against the parents for alleged manslaughter. Local media reported at the time that the parents were from Ghana.

In another case in December, a 2-year-old died of severe blood loss from a botched circumcision in Rome. The toddler’s twin brother also faced complication but they were not life-threatening.

“It is a very serious incident and I hope those responsible will pay for this severely under the law,” Alessio Mammi, the Scandiano mayor, told the Telegraph at the time. “All the community has come together for this baby who lost his life through such a serious act, we are gathered in prayer... It is worrying that there are still individuals who practice these rituals of such a very ancient character to risk the lives of such small children.”

Circumcision is risky if it is not conducted under the supervision of a medical professional. Problems associated with the procedure include pain, risk of bleeding and infection at the site of the circumcision, irritation of the glans, increased risk of meatitis (inflammation of the opening of the penis), and injury to the penis, according to WebMD. However, deaths linked to circumcisions mostly occur when the procedure is done at home.