[Margaret Pilkington]

I think the practice of circumcision arose in hot countries as a means of maintaining some kind of hygiene(like many of the food rules in Judaism).
Circumcision in itself(and for boys only - female circumcision is for a very different reason and IS barbaric) is not harmful as long as it is done surgically with anaesthesia and pain relief.
The case cited, was done by someone who had no concept of asepsis(if the report is to be believed) or the risks involved with blood loss.

Circumcision for medical reasons is a different matter....and would never be performed in this kind of situation.