The New York District Attorney's office is reportedly investigating the death of a 2-week-old boy who underwent metzizah b'peh, a controversial Orthodox Jewish ritual that involves orally sucking the blood from the circumcised baby's penis. According to the unidentified boy's death certificate, he contracted herpes simplex virus type 1 from the ritual, and passed away at a Brooklyn hospital. In the uncommon ritual, the mohel (or rabbi performing the circumcision) uses his mouth to draw blood away from the circumcision wound. Even though there is an investigation underway, charges are unlikely as the ritual is not yet against city or state health laws.
Source: CBS News and Joe My God.
