
A Missouri couple is facing charges after an ill-advised attempt to circumcise their infant son using a utility tool. Tyler Wade Gibson, 35, and his wife, Bailey Gibson, 32, from rural Missouri, took their son to the hospital last month after the botched procedure. According to court documents, Tyler had researched the procedure and “prayed” before attempting it, but he wasn’t prepared for the amount of bleeding that followed.
After realizing the severity of the situation, Tyler called a medical help hotline, and the couple rushed their son to Columbia University Hospital for treatment. However, after waiting a while to see a doctor, the couple left the hospital without their son being treated. The hospital staff, understandably concerned, reported the situation to the Missouri Department of Family Services.
Tyler was later arrested and charged with felony counts of unauthorized practice of medicine and child abuse. Bailey faces one felony count of child abuse. Bailey told investigators she had been “very hesitant and unsure” about her husband’s decision, but she didn’t explain why she allowed him to proceed with the procedure. Both parents are currently free on bond. Tyler has pleaded not guilty, and Bailey’s arraignment is scheduled for January.
The situation sparked strong reactions on social media, with many users commenting on the absurdity of the attempt and criticizing the parents for their actions. One pointed out the irony of such a case coming at the same time as Missouri’s ban on “child mutilation” surgeries, a reference to gender-affirming care. The incident also shed light on the alarming trend of home circumcisions, which have been reported in some cases involving grown men, though it remains unclear which is worse.
Experts, including urologists, caution against home circumcisions, emphasizing that the procedure should only be performed by trained professionals in a medical setting. While there are minimal risks and benefits associated with circumcision, the general consensus is that it’s not a procedure that should be attempted outside of a proper medical environment.