Doctors Shift Stance on Female Cutting

After only a month of criticism—including from The Daily Beast’s Ayaan Hirsi Ali—the American Academy of Pediatrics has reversed a policy that advised American doctors to give a ceremonial pinprick to girls of immigrant families so that they would avoid seeking a full circumcision. The pinprick is illegal in the U.S., and the idea generated a hail of criticism from opponents of female circumcision, which is practiced by members of some African, Middle Eastern, and Asian Cultures. "We're saying don't do it," the head of the association now says. "Do everything you can to support that family in this tough time, but don't be pulled into the procedure."