Re Jehova witness?
Question:
What I am against and all good people non J.W. of the world is a child dying as a result of the J.W. parent refusing life saving blood. It is a parents responsibility to feed, protect and when that child is ill to give them the medical help they need including blood, if I as a parent of 2 children refused my child any of these and my chid or both became seriously ill or died as a result, then I shall be liable for child abuse or murder and I would have every parent after my blood if I did that.
I am an ex ambulanceman and I was called to an RTA in which a 7 year old girl died after her parents refused blood. She died in the O. R.
Answers:
Bubbles, I agree this is a difficult area and I thing that even the most devout Jehova's Witness can not say for certain what they would do until they are placed in that situation.
Once when I was working on a cardiothoracic ward a young lady in her 30's came in on ablue light. She had a disecting aortic aneurysm, which basically means the largest blood vessel in her body was leaking. When the doctors explained that they were going to operate immediately in order to repair the vessel the lady replied that she was a Jehova's witness and would not accept a blood transfusion. This reduced her chances of survival dramatically but she was adamant.
The doctors explained that they could set up a system where her own blood would be collected and given back to her, but the lady still refused stating it was God's will. The ladies family, including her nine year old son pleaded with her to change her mind, even the hospital chaplain urged her to accept the blood. But she still refused to accept the help.
As predicted the lady later died during surgery, she left behind a husband and her son. The whole situation left me feeling very uneasy. I am not a religious person but I do respect other peoples' beliefs. However this time I could not understand how this lady could value her own life and the happiness of her husband and child less than her religion. As to be expected the boy took his Mothers' death badly and I was left feeling that he may grow up to resent his mothers beliefs as they had left him without a Mother.
In an emergency situation Doctors have the power to perfom necessary treatment without consent. However they can not do this if the person has explicity refused treatment prior to the emergency. This leaves them powerless to act in these situations, but I have heard of cases where a court has overruled a patients' decision to refuse blood, see below:
http://www.nursinglaw.com/blood3.htm
However I do agree that a child should never die as a result of a religious practice and that Doctors should be able to act in the best interests of the child, who may not be able to speak for themselves, or even truly comprehend the implications of refusing blood.
The parents are responsible for there children whatever there beliefs but if there faith is stronger than there love for there child then they need to seriously rethink there beliefs.
The doctors should have tried to get an emergancy restraining order in order to protect the child from her parents.
My children will always come first, before myself, my husband and my own parents and siblings.
I'm not sure what your question is but I totally agree with your stance and feelings.
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