Toddler Dies After Circumcision Goes Wrong; Baby Brother In Intensive Care

A 2-year-old boy in Australia died while his younger brother underwent emergency surgery following botched circumcisions on both children earlier this week.

The two children were taken to the emergency department at Armadale Hospital Tuesday evening following the failed circumcisions at a medical clinic in Perth, Western Australia (WA), The Guardian reported.

The older brother was declared dead on arrival, while his 7-month-old sibling was taken to Perth Children's Hospital in Nedlands for emergency surgery, a report by 7NEWS.com.au said.

The 2-year-old's official cause of death was not disclosed, and it was unclear what injuries he and his brother sustained from the circumcisions.

The surviving child was treated in the hospital's intensive care unit and has since been discharged, according to the outlet.

Authorities in WA later said the death was not treated as suspicious, local newspaper The West Australian reported.

"There are no suspicious circumstances — this medical procedure took place at an authorized medical facility," Chris Dawson, the state’s police commissioner, was quoted as saying by WAtoday.

Additionally, Dawson claimed he had "no information to suggest that there's anything untoward in terms of criminal acts or anything like that" concerning the case, which he described as "very tragic."

WA Premier Mark McGowan commented on the incident saying the child's death was "shocking and tragic."

"I don’t know why and I don’t know the circumstances but it’s just a terrible, terrible tragedy," the state's chief executive said.

WA police's homicide squad was initially called in to investigate the death, but the matter has now been handed over to the coronial investigation unit.

Police would be preparing a report for the coroner.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRC), a federal regulatory body, was unable to comment on whether the medical facility in Gosnells involved in the incident was being investigated due to confidentiality under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law.

The AHPRC, however, noted that they and the Medical Board of Australia were aware of the incident and have extended their condolences to the family, a spokesperson said.

Circumcision is banned at public hospitals in Australia unless it is required for medical reasons, as per The Guardian. The surgery, however, can be carried out at private clinics by a general practitioner.

The medical procedure is reportedly very rarely done for medical reasons. The Royal Australasian College of Physicians said the procedure is usually done due to family, cultural and religious reasons.