Judge to rule on clash over heart operation for Amish boy

CANTON — A St. Lawrence County Family Court judge will soon decide whether a young Amish boy with a heart defect will undergo an operation to repair it.

A Rochester heart surgeon testified Wednesday by telephone about the procedure that could be performed on Eli

Hershberger, who was born in April 2007 with a hole in the lower part of his heart and also has a blockage, attorneys said.

The surgery needed to repair the defect clashes with the religious beliefs of his family, who have been accused of not providing him adequate medical care.

Gideon M. and Barbara G. Hershberger of Winthrop appeared in Family Court for their trial after the county Department of Social Services petitioned the court to have Eli removed from their custody. The Hershbergers don't face any criminal charges.

Family Court Judge Barbara R. Potter concluded the trial Wednesday and will soon decide whether to remove Eli from his parents' custody to allow the surgery, said William J. Galvin, the county's conflict public defender representing Mr. Hershberger.

Several people have testified in the case, including the bishop of their Amish community and Karen M. Johnson-Weiner, a SUNY Potsdam professor who is considered an Amish expert. A bishop is considered the head of an Amish community.