Coroner urges regulation of non‑therapeutic circumcision after infant's death

A coroner has warned further babies could die unless the government introduces regulation of non‑therapeutic male circumcision following the death of a six‑month‑old boy in west London.

The boy, Mohamed Abdisamad, was circumcised on 12 February 2023 by a circumciser recommended to his parents. He developed symptoms three to four days later, was taken by ambulance to Hillingdon Hospital on 19 February and was pronounced dead at 23:55 GMT the same day.

A jury inquest concluded on 8 October 2025 that the medical cause of death was an "invasive streptococcus pyogenes infection following male circumcision".

Assistant coroner Anton van Dellen wrote a prevention of future deaths report dated 28 December 2025, saying there is a risk of further deaths unless action is taken. He highlighted there are no national safeguards for non‑therapeutic male circumcision, including no requirements for training, accreditation or registration of practitioners, and no rules on record keeping, infection control, aftercare or a system for obtaining consent.

The report has been sent to the Department of Health and Social Care and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, which have 56 days to respond. Copies were also sent to the boy's family and the London Ambulance Service.

Key Topics

Health, United States, Uk, Circumcision, Coroner, Regulation, Child Death