Dying teen leaves Canada for treatment

Sunday, July 21

Canadian Press

Calgary —

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.

He learned Sunday that his 16-year-old dying daughter was no longer resting at her mother's apartment.

"I called (Saturday) and my other daughter told me she was sleeping — I'm upset no one told me they were leaving," said the father.

He cannot be named to protect the identity of his daughter, who until two weeks ago was a ward of the Alberta government.

While his daughter fought a court battle against blood transfusions with the support of her mother and two sisters, the father sided with Child Welfare and doctors to continue the transfusions as part of potentially life-saving treatment.

He has since been shunned by his family and their Jehovah's Witness church.

"My daughter is still upset and usually hangs up in my ear," said the man, who is now separated from his wife. "But I would have thought they'd let me know if she was leaving the country."

He suspects his daughter and wife are in California, where they were "seriously looking at a clinic."

The girl's lawyer David Gnam won't say where she is or even if she has left the country.

"The oncologist who is treating her doesn't want any media attention and (the girl) asked me not to disclose her whereabouts," Mr. Gnam said.

"She's a little bit stronger but her condition remains quite guarded — she's doing this to keep fighting rather than sit around waiting to die."

Mr. Gnam described the treatment she will be getting as conventional cancer treatment but not chemotherapy.

She'll undergo at least two weeks of treatments at the clinic.

Earlier this year, the girl was made a temporary ward of the province and a court ordered her to receive blood transfusions on the basis that she's not an adult and can't refuse them, nor can her parents on her behalf.

Two weeks ago the girl's guardianship was returned to her parents and the transfusions were stopped when a court was told they weren't working and that doctors believed palliative care was now the appropriate treatment.

Source

Continuing Story
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)

Teen's transfusions must continue: Court
The Alberta Court of Appeal ruled that a young Jehovah's Witness from Calgary will have to continue getting blood transfusions. 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.
(added 04/27/2002)