Female Circumcision Claims Another Life

"Egyptian girl dies from circumcision" from AP:

A 13-year-old Egyptian girl died during a female genital mutilation (FGM) operation, the second such case reported over the past two months, local media said Saturday.

The doctor involved has been referred to the state prosecutor for investigation and his clinic in the rural Gharbiyah province has been closed down, state-owned Al-Gomhoria daily reported.

The earlier death of a 12-year-old girl during an FGM operation in June sparked a public outcry and prompted the government to officially ban hospitals from performing the traditional procedure which is widespread throughout Egypt.

Apparently with not much effect. Boys will be boys.

The latest death was uncovered when Karima Rahim Massoud's father applied on Friday for a death certificate, insisting his daughter had died from natural causes, reported the independent daily Al-Masry Al-Youm. The father has also been referred to the prosecutor.

Natural causes? In societies where honor killing are rampant, I guess FGM can be considered "natural".

The procedure is brutal and the side effects are debilitating; and obviously, sometimes fatal.

Among practicing cultures, FGM is most commonly performed between the ages of four and eight, but can take place at any age from infancy to adolescence. Prohibition has led to FGM going underground, at times with people who have had no medical training performing the cutting without anesthetic, sterilization, or the use of proper medical instruments. The procedure, when performed without any anesthetic, can lead to death through shock from immense pain or excessive bleeding. The failure to use sterile medical instruments may lead to infections.

Other serious long term health effects are also common. These include urinary and reproductive tract infections, caused by obstructed flow of urine and menstrual blood, various forms of scarring and infertility. The first time having sexual intercourse will often be extremely painful, and infibulated women will need the labia majora to be opened, to allow their husband access to the vagina. This second cut, sometimes performed by the husband with a knife, can cause other complications to arise.

Horrific.