Opinion
April 27, 1998
Appeal from the Family Court, Suffolk County (Trainor, J.).
Ordered that the ordered is affirmed insofar as appealed from, without costs or disbursements.
The parents' appeal from so much of the order as continued the temporary removal of the children from their home would ordinarily have to be dismissed as academic because the children were subsequently returned to their home. Any corrective measures which this Court might take with respect to the placement of the children would have no practical effect ( see, Matter of New York City Dept. of Social Servs. [Kalisha A.] v. Diognes T., 208 A.D.2d 844). However, the underlying finding that there would have been imminent risk to the children's life or health in the event they were returned to the parents at the time the order was made constitutes a "permanent and significant stigma" which "might indirectly affect the [parents's status in potential future proceedings" ( Matter of H. Children, 166 A.D.2d 520). Accordingly, the appeal is not academic.
Turning to the merits, we find that the evidence adduced at the hearing established that returning the children to the parents in March 1997 would have presented an imminent risk to their life or health ( see, Family Ct. Act § 1028 Fam. Ct. Act). In particular, the evidence showed that the mother was suffering from Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy which caused her to fabricate symptoms of apnea in her infant son and subject him to unnecessary medical treatment ( see, Matter of Suffolk County Dept. of Social Servs. [Aaron S.], 215 A.D.2d 395). After the mother completed a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation and several months of therapy, the Family Court determined that the temporary removal of the children was no longer necessary. Inasmuch as the Family Court had the advantage of viewing the witnesses and weighing their credibility, its determination is entitled to great deference on appeal and will not be disturbed ( see, Matter of Tami G., 209 A.D.2d 869, 870).
Pizzuto, J.P., Joy, Friedmann and Florio, JJ., concur.