Circumcision of 40 children in unauthorized clinic, doctor arrested

Major Federico Silvestri

TRENTO - The Carabinieri write that it is believed it would be useful and have preventative effects to protect the public by raising awareness of the ongoing protection efforts of the Trento Public Prosecutor's Office, through the Carabinieri NAS (National Anti-Corruption Unit), for public health, particularly that of minors. A valuable preventative measure is to inform the public that clinics must be properly licensed, that circumcision surgeries can only be performed by licensed healthcare personnel in licensed healthcare facilities, and therefore of the serious risks to minors when using unlicensed personnel or facilities. In recent months, as part of inspections aimed at combating the unauthorized practice of healthcare, the Carabinieri NAS (National Anti-Corruption Unit) of Trento discovered that a general practitioner in the province of Trento was performing circumcision surgeries, requested for cultural/ritual reasons, on children of foreign origin at his clinic. The clinic, in addition to lacking a health license, also exhibited poor hygiene practices.

From 2022 at least 40 children, including those from outside the region, will undergo circumcision

The procedures adopted were also utterly inadequate, requiring, in some cases, emergency transport to the hospital emergency room. One of the young patients was hospitalized following benzodiazepine intoxication , which the doctor had administered in excessive doses to calm the child during surgery. Investigations have shown that since 2022, at least 40 children, some from outside the region, were circumcised by the doctor, who on several occasions was assisted by his sons, who had never obtained a nursing qualification. The Trento District Attorney's Office, following the NAS investigation, issued a precautionary house arrest order against the doctor, the precautionary seizure of the clinic, which was not authorized to perform delicate surgical procedures, and the filing of a complaint against the adult son, who was employed as a nurse without a qualification.

A bed with restraining straps, an electric scalpel, and packages of benzodiazepines were found.

During the searches, officers found a stretcher with restraining straps, an electric scalpel, packets of benzodiazepines, a packet of local anesthetic, a business card specifically mentioning a circumcision , and a set of medical receipts. The investigation currently appears to be concluded. Officers have executed the personal and real custody orders issued by the judicial authorities. The presumption of innocence remains, meaning that a person cannot be considered guilty of a crime until a final conviction. The defendant is presumed innocent until a final conviction. Therefore, at all levels of proceedings, he must be considered innocent of the crime of which he is accused. Even those convicted without a final conviction must be considered innocent. Indeed, the presumption of innocence requires that even a person found innocent by a sentence that is still open to appeal be considered innocent. And so, a person convicted in the first instance who has appealed or who still has time to do so must be considered innocent," states the Carabinieri press release.