Top Oregon court hears circumcision case

SALEM, Ore., June 22 (UPI) -- A case before the Oregon Supreme Court pits a father, who wants his adolescent son circumcised, against his ex-wife, who considers the procedure unnecessary.

James Boldt, who converted to Judaism after he split with his son's mother, wants his son to undergo the procedure for religious reasons but the boy's mother, Lia Boldt, claimed the boy is afraid to tell his father that he doesn't want the surgery, The Oregonian reported Friday.

Lower courts sided with James Boldt, the custodial parent. The case highlights the common practice of courts siding with custodial parents in such disputes.

The father claimed his son wants the procedure as part of his own conversion to Judaism, the newspaper said.

Dr. Steve Skoog, head of pediatric urology at Doernbecher Children's Hospital, said circumcising adolescent boys for cultural reasons "is a little unusual," as the procedure requires a general anesthetic that can add to risk and recovery time from the surgery, the Oregonian report said.

Lia Boldt is asking the court to allow for a hearing to prove that circumcision would cause physical and psychological harm to her son.