Teen's transfusions must continue: Court

EDMONTON (CP) — A young Jehovah's Witness from Calgary will have to continue getting blood transfusions, even though they go against her religious beliefs, the Alberta Court of Appeal ruled Friday.

The 16-year-old girl, who suffers from leukemia, is not mature enough to make a decision that's crucial to her treatment, the high court said in upholding earlier rulings by lower courts.

The girl has already undergone 19 transfusions and is scheduled to undergo another one next Monday.

She has opposed the treatment because members of the Jehovah's Witness faith believe the Bible prohibits consuming blood.

The girl has gone to court a dozen times in her effort to stop the transfusions, saying she doesn't want to die but insisting it is within her religious rights to refuse treatment.

The girl's Calgary doctors have said the treatment gives her a 40 to 50 per cent chance of beating the cancer but without blood transfusions, she would likely die.

The legal battle has split the girl's family, with her mother and two sisters giving their support to refuse transfusions, while her father consents to the blood treatment.

The family moved from Belleville, Ont., to Calgary three years ago.

The appeal court had fast-tracked the girl's appeal because of the gravity of her health situation.

Continuing Story:
Dying teen leaves Canada for treatment
The father of a teenaged leukemia patient who fought against blood transfusions for religious reasons is upset that his wife has taken their daughter out of the country to a secret location where she'll begin alternative treatments.
(added 07/22/2002)

Jehovah's Witness teen happy to be 17 years old A Canadian girl is undergoing alternative chemotherapy treatment at an undisclosed location in North America. She made headlines earlier this year when she refused to receive blood transfusions. Her battle has torn her family apart. Her parents are now embroiled in divorce proceedings, split over Mia's refusal to undergo blood transfusions. (added 08/21/2002)

Dad of Alberta girl who fought transfusions lashes out at Jehovah's Witnesses The grieving father of a 17-year-old Jehovah's Witness girl who died of leukemia says he intends to sue the religious group, claiming it destroyed his family and caused his daughter to fight against blood transfusions. (updated 09/07/2002)

Bethany's battle rages a year after her death -Parents fight for custody of little sister Bethany made headlines in Canada after refusing to undergo blood transfusions and died of acute myeloid leukemia. Bethany's father claims the Watchtower Society and his wife played a major role in her death. He is now fighting for sole custody of his youngest daughter who lives with her mother and is also a Jehovah's Witness. (added 07/26/2003)

Irreconcilable beliefs shattered family -Parents’ clash over transfusions led to divorce A bitter clash between religious beliefs and medical treatment led to the ultimate breakup and bankruptcy of a Calgary family, a judge has concluded in the parents’ divorce action. (added 11/20/2003)

Previous story:
Judge orders teen continue transfusions Lawyers for a 16-year-old girl, and her mother requested a stay preventing doctors from administering transfusions against her will. But the judge ordered a transfusion. The girl's father is also a Jehovah's Witness, but after reviewing Scriptures now believes there's nothing wrong with blood transfusions and favours the treatments to keep his daughter alive (added 02/22/2002).

Father shunned by family for defying faith to save child
The father of this girl is shunned by the Jehovah's Witnesses he once embraced since defying his faith by agreeing to blood transfusions for his 16-year-old leukemia-stricken daughter.
(added 03/11/2002)