Doctors go to court to get blood for baby
Doctors at the Pretoria Academic Hospital have obtained an urgent court order enabling them to give a month-old baby a blood transfusion. They felt the life of the infant – one of twins – was at stake.
But the baby’s family, who live in Sunnyside and are Jehovah’s Witnesses, are deeply distressed.
The baby’s grandmother said the hospital knew about their faith and the fact that blood transfusion was against their religion.
To make matters worse, the 22-year-old mother of the child had to witness the blood being transfused to the baby, the grandmother said.
“They obtained the order late on Saturday night because they said it was urgent. Urgent means urgent, so why, when my daughter got to the hospital the next afternoon, did she have to witness the transfusion?
“We were told it would only take four hours to administer. Why did they only have to do it the next afternoon? Seeing the transfusion had upset her terribly,” she said.
The twins were born on September 20 and they were premature: her daughter had been due to give birth only in December.
The infants were placed in an incubator, but one boy developed complications. He became anaemic and the doctors told the family that he urgently needed a blood transfusion.
“I told them that I signed a form during admission that transfusions are against our religion.
“I eventually even got our priest to explain the situation to them. I told them that we would rather pray and hope he would survive.”
The grandmother said to the surprise of the doctors the infant did seem a bit better. “We were so happy we cried with joy.”
But she said a week later he experienced another setback and the doctors once again insisted on a transfusion.
The family again refused and the grandmother said a doctor suggested alternative medication, which would increase the infant’s haemoglobin levels. “The doctor said the medicine would take about three weeks to work,” the grandmother said.
On Saturday, while the family was visiting the infants, the doctors again insisted on a transfusion. The family was told on Saturday evening that the doctors were headed for the Pretoria High Court to obtain an order.
Judge Willie Seriti heard oral evidence late that evening from paediatricians and a neurologist who said the baby suffered from severe anaemia, coupled with secondary heart failure, and that his life depended on a transfusion.
The doctors asked the court to override the family’s wishes that the child should not be given a transfusion.
Before granting the order, the judge also heard from the family, who still persisted that they opposed a transfusion.
The grandmother said she believed a transfusion was unnecessary as the doctor said the child should recover from the alternative treatment which was administered about two weeks ago.
“They said it would only work after three weeks. Why go to court and not wait for it to work? I believe the only reason is that we are being discriminated against based on our religion,” the grandmother said.
She said by late on Monday afternoon she could not detect a change in the baby’s condition. He was still attached to a ventilator. The other twin, however, is doing fine, although he is also still in hospital.
A Pretoria Academic Hospital spokesperson, Fredah Kobo, declined to comment on Monday.
Source: Pretoria News
i salute this family indeed. thats the spirit. The bible says abstain from blood, it doesnt say, dont eat but get transfused it clearly says abstain from blood. Jehova will repay you guys…
Jehova witnesses must WAKE UP! Is God going to judge you for saving a life or letting let DIE!
why don’t you explain your proof that jehovah used a LITERAL bone to create woman. It could have been a genetic copy, or the only/best illistration for us humans to fully understand because he is so powerful and knows so much…. We don’t know exacly how he did it , or what biological matter was used…. so that statement did NOT sound intelligent.
p.s. sorry if I mispelled anything. You don’t have to spell right to have common sense .
Following Jesus, does not mean not taking a blood transfusion when you need it or letting your Child die.
If you focus on Jesus, rather then the Law, You will be able to do the things you are suppose to do.
Very cute sparky, what about: Comment by sparky (Comment ID: 279417)
tranfusion, ciculatory, seaps, supress, defence, wanr,
Since you seem to be such a scholar, have you got any idea the meaning of the above words.
That is how I spot jw’s, they can’t spell. Did you ever pass 4th grade??
isn’t a sole a fish?
abbie
your so sweet ! he does know what’s best for us. that’s why we have the bible. there are many who think they have the truth, but only a few who know they have the truth.
may Jehovah bless you.
love from U.K.
sparky
Sher, perhaps you have been living in a cave for the last several years?
The JW faith is one of the most prolific religions for hiding & covering up the pedophile problem. At least the Catholics finally are trying to deal with this and have done a lot of this publicly.
Since you are rather clueless with regard to this matter, have you been to the Silent Lambs website, started by an ex-elder who was so upset at the Society not properly handling pedophiles?
As well, since you are so well versed with how your religion is handling this issue, please feel free to inform everyone how they handled the following cases using the links provided below and as well, maybe you could explain how it is handled in your area?
Oh and don’t forget to discuss why the Society recently settled out of court several of these abuse cases.
Oops, I guess not right? For two simple reasons really:
1. Your local elder body & the Watchtower Society will not share this information with the little people, but in your eye that’s okay, everything is la-de-dah.
2. With your head in the sand, ignorance is bliss right?
Here are the links, feedback would be nice, yet emotional non-factual statements would be a waste of time.
One last item, keep in mind that these sites are posting facts, much of them are news stories covering the investigation into how abuse cases were handled. Please spare anyone the apostate excuse, that these sites are the work of the devil. That would only reinforce point 2 above.
http://www.silentlambs.org/
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/8/142943/1.ashx
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/story.html?id=beaa18d2-640d-4e84-b8d0-787e6defb2b4&k=7030
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article294046.ece
http://www.watchtowerdocuments.com/
http://www.silentlambs.org/Aussiedfd.htm
Where do you get such lies. First of all Jehovah’s witnesses would disfellowship someone who was a child-molester, if found out, and I believe God would see to it that would happen. I THINK you have them confused with Catholicism who has blatantly covered this up for generations.
They were (furious with) Jesus because He BROKE their laws…
Joining in here,
JW’s do not believe in an immortal soul or eternal punishment. They DO believe that blood transfusions goes against God’s law, but don’t realize that’s a law (Old Testiment) written to a people who were “stiff-necked” and “heart hearted”. In the New Testiment, it’s written to Gentiles new in the faith.
It’s spiritual milk for newbies. But the meat, which JW’s continually miss, is found throughout Jesus’ own teachings (Matthew 15:1-20, Mark 7:1-23, Acts 10:9-16), and from Paul (Romans 14:13-23).
Spiritually mature people realize that nothing God makes is unclean. And sin doesn’t go into our mouth, it comes out of our heart.
Another thing JW’s miss is that the Jews weren’t enraged at Jesus because he was upholding their laws & traditions. They were Jesus because He BROKE their laws. Unfortunately, JW’s beliefs do not reflect Jesus, but those who killed Him.
how could Jesus can’t write?thus he is the son of all mighty God Jehovah?
yes!!! thats the best answer of all
being a christian was never easy. look at different bible charactors. for example job,stephen, jerehmia,shadrech, mischeck, abadnigo, daniel noah(having to build an ark 4 all those years) moses,peter, and even Jesus. if u are to notice in bible times as with now, the people who were always materialistic and selfishare the Non-christians.
in life certain sacrifices are maid.e.g job.Like us 2day, job could have saved his family by just cursing God.likewise we can also today save the lives of loved ones by going against His law. but is that ryt. if jobs experience is anything to go by then i think not.like us 2day job would haved lives(which is good) but in a wrong way.
look at it this way, what if like Job, Satan is using you and your loved ones 2 get to God.
think about it
the bible actually does forbid us from the intake of blood. it says that thou shult not eat blood or partake in the intake of it.why would God(not god as if he is false)say that u must not take in blood if he would then allow u to transfuse it. dont think that just because the act is helping someone, that means its good.
i think in a way this is like the issue of gay marriages.people dont oppose of gay marriages because on some occasions it would be good people getting ,arried but that still doesnt mean its ryt because God condems it. u can see that when he was even describing sodom and gomora.that was one of the things that he said where vile about the place.
so in conclusion i would like to say dont take Gods law into your own hands just to justify your selfish needs.
Where exactly does god say that?
god says he helps those who help themselves. With god’s help you can do anything, god wont do it for you.
Think about it this way….
How could you go wrong if you follow the path that leads to God (Jehovah)? If you do believe in hell… Is it possible that you will be punished for living a good life to the best of your ability? If you lead sick sad and disgusting lives then that is what your future will produce. We all go through trails that are sometimes un-bearable, but if you have a chance to have a new life filled with happiness why not WORK towards it??? Isn’t that how you MATERIALISTIC humans work for what you desire? But you can’t work to live a descent life in the eyes of GOD??? Come on!!! His expectations for us aren’t much that we would expect from our kids. Have morals, be clean, and love?? Too much huh? Then maybe you should look at yourself twice if you feel that these expectations are too much to meet. *I will pray for your children* Now how many can say you know what love is??? Love has trials and it gets hard. Really hard but it is unconditional! So when your receiving all these blessings there is a possible chance that GOD is real?? Then when it get’s hard you curse his name???
Everyone is simply creating there own personal LAME excuses for why they choose not to follow the path to GOD. Mostly for disgusting selfish reasons like: Just being able to do whatever, whenever, however, you please. Just like spoiled brats. You hate the thought of having discipline in your lives which is really sad. JW’s are about discipline and showing a genuine love for god rather than just saying it, you are required to show it. Just like you would have appreciated your mate showing you that he/she love’s you rather than saying it and screwing the neighbor! I’m not a witness, nor do I live a perfect life, but how could you judge these people for trying to live as clean as possible? Everyone has to find there way. You can either chose to LIVE with good clean morals, or DIE filled with excuses!
P.S. He doesnt need to write… He’s JESUS!!