A 31-year-old mother from South Florida spent nine days in jail and was only released on Saturday after she posted bail and finally agreed to have her son circumcised.
Heather Hironimus was arrested last May 14 after she went into hiding with her four-year-old son Chase to avoid giving her consent in court to her child's circumcision as demanded by the child's father, Dennis Nebus.
The child's parents have been at odds over the circumcision of their son. Nebus said his son's circumcision just "just a normal thing to do." Hironimus initially agreed to the medical procedure on her son but later changed her mind.
She was found at the Broward County shelter together with her son.
In the court hearing on Friday, Hironimus again refused to sign a consent form for her son's circumcision. She was told that she would remain in jail if she refused.
Hironimus was shown chained at the wrists and ankles and wearing a navy blue jail jumpsuit when she arrived in court.
After a court recess, she finally agreed and signed the form while sobbing.
Despite this, she is still facing court charges of interference with child custody, court officials said.
Her mother, Mary Hironimus was teary-eyed after the court hearing, saying her daughter was right to fight for her son's wellbeing. "Of course it's worth it," she said, "any mother would do anything for her child."
Judge Jeffrey Gillen gave Nebus temporary custody of the child even as Nebus' lawyer, May Cain, said the child's circumcision has not been scheduled yet. Cain said her client had been receiving death threats and warnings his son would be kidnapped.
Georganne Chapin, executive director of Intact America, which advocates against circumcision, said the judge had "bullied" Hironimus into signing the consent form for her child's circumcision, calling it the "saddest commentary on the court."
"If anyone finds out the circumstances under which she signed, a doctor would be insane to carry out that surgery," she said.
Gillen defended his decision, saying "I am fearful that the child might be abducted."
Just before the hearing ended, Gillen offered his advice to the parents: "You are both going to continue to be the parents to this young man. You're going to have to learn how to deal with that in an amicable, friendly, civil manner. You're going to have to always take into consideration what's in your child's best interest. To the extent that you may differ on things, you're going to have to talk them out. That's what parents do in a civilized society. You do not take the law into your own hands."
Hironimus and Nebus had a six-month relationship but did not marry.
An online petition on Change.org signed by 9,800 people urged doctors not to perform the circumcision on the child.
"Dear Medical Professionals, it is not the job of a Judge to order a medical procedure. That is the job of a Doctor," the petition said.
It added, "We believe that forcing a healthy boy to undergo a circumcision surgery, under anesthesia, where there is no medical necessity, is doing harm to the patient and involves significant and unnecessary risks to the boy's physical and emotional health. We urge you not to perform this unnecessary surgery."
Nebus has been given permission by the court to travel out of state for the procedure.
"We are encouraging all advocates to make a list of your local (or state wide) clinics, especially pediatric urologists, who could be hired to cut Chase and write to them urging them to review Chase's case and not circumcise this child against his will. Encourage friends in other areas to do the same," the petition read.
