Baby Boy Dies After Circumcision

A coroner has raised concerns over circumcisions being carried out ‘without any prior training’ after a six-month-old boy died days after undergoing a procedure.

Mohamed Abdisamad underwent a non-therapeutic male circumcision on February 12, 2023, performed by a circumciser recommended to his parents upon their request, the West London coroner’s report read. 

But the baby started exhibiting signs of illness three to four days after the procedure and was taken to Hillingdon Hospital by ambulance a week later, on February 19. However, Mohamed tragically went into cardiorespiratory arrest and was pronounced dead on the same day at 11.55 pm.

A jury inquest, which ended on October 8 2025, found the medical cause of death to be an ‘invasive streptococcus pyogenes infection following male circumcision’.

Assistant coroner Anton van Dellen wrote a prevention of future deaths report in which he called for action over the lack of safety and regulatory measures surrounding non-therapeutic male circumcisions.

‘During the inquest, the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern,’ Dr van Dellen wrote in the report dated December 28, 2025.

‘In my opinion, there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken. 

‘The matters of concern are as follows: any individual may conduct a non-therapeutic male circumcision without any prior training or any Continuing Professional Development (CDP).

‘There is no system of external accreditation and/or registration for individuals who conduct a non-therapeutic male circumcision.

‘There is no requirement for any record keeping for individuals who undergo a non-therapeutic male circumcision.

‘There is no requirement for any infection control measures for a non-therapeutic male circumcision.

‘There are no requirements for any aftercare for a non-therapeutic male circumcision (NTMC), including but not limited to dressing the wound, analgesia and/or worsening care advice,’ he said.

The coroner also pointed to the lack of a system for getting permission prior to the procedure being carried out.

The report is being sent to the Department of Health and Social Care and to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

They will have 56 days from the date of the report being issued to respond, the coroner said. 

Copies of the report are also being sent to Mohamed’s mother and father, his maternal grandmother, his uncle, and the London Ambulance Service. 

Many would say that circumcision is a barbaric procedure and that it has no place in modern culture, unless it’s medically required.

Many parents have their infants circumcised for religious or other reasons. Circumcision is an ancient practice that originated in religious rites.

Parents may choose to circumcise their child for a variety of reasons, including hygiene and the prevention of diseases like cancer, STDs, and urinary tract infections, but it should only be performed by a professional surgeon.