I'm saying that it's cruel to do surgery without anaesthesia or even painkillers. I'm not saying anything about right or wrong. I'm not saying there's even a clear choice here, but I definitely think that alternatives should be explored, given the amount of pain such a procedure must surely cause.
If you were the one having surgery, would you elect to go without anaesthesia because it's safer? Even if the anaesthesia posed a significant danger? Just a thought.