[Forensic issues raised by circumcision: Review and case report]

Circumcision is defined as the partial or total excision of the prepuce. It is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures around the world. This practice primarily involves minors. The aim of this study was to review the legal aspects of ritual circumcision in France. We report the cases of an 11-year-old and a 15-year-old boy examined in the forensic unit at the Hôtel-Dieu hospital in Paris, after their father complained to the Minors Protection Brigade of Paris following the discovery of their circumcision. The examination conducted in the forensic unit found that the two boys had undergone recent circumcision. The total incapacity of work (ITT) was assessed as 5 days for the 15-year-old boy and 1 day for the 11-year-old boy. Ritual "medicalized" circumcision is legal in France, and does not fall under article 222-1 of the Criminal Code (torture and acts of barbarism) or article 16-1 of the Civil Code (inviolability of the human body). Circumcision is treated as a "serious act" by several areas of jurisprudence, which means it is imperative to obtain the consent of both parents. Moreover, it must be performed in a hospital by knowledgeable staff.