A coroner has urged the government to introduce safety measures for non-therapeutic circumcisions after a six-month-old boy died from an infection following the procedure. Mohamed Abdisamad died in February 2023 after undergoing a circumcision performed by an individual recommended to his parents.
The inquest at west London coroner’s court found the cause of death to be an invasive streptococcus pyogenes infection. The assistant coroner, Anton van Dellen, issued a prevention of future deaths report, warning that without action, more deaths could occur.
Van Dellen highlighted concerns over the lack of training, accreditation, and infection control requirements for circumcisers. He noted there was no duty of aftercare, such as wound dressing or pain relief, and no system of consent or record keeping.
The report has been sent to the Department of Health and Social Care and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Copies were also sent to Mohamed's family and the London Ambulance Service.
