The headline news here in Ireland is currently about a Jehovah Witness couple. The woman is 34 wks pregnant with twins and the twins are due to be delivered this weekend. Unfortunately the twins are very anemic and both need a life saving blood transfusion as soon as they are born. The parents have objected to this on religious grounds, even if their babies die without the transfusion. The doctors went to the high court and the judge ruled yesterday that the babies are to receive the blood transfusions as soon as they are born. I understand (even though i personally do not believe in any religion) that religious people have their views and their beliefs, but what i can't understand is how any parent would not do whatever is necessary to protect their children and give them a chance at life.
Everyone has the right to believe what they want, just as they have the right to say what they want, but as a wise man said that right ends at the tip of their nose. Public policy dictates that the weak must be deffended, that all life deserves the unflinching support of medicine and the state in the form of it's laws.
I was given a blood transfusion, or a top up as my mum used to call it, at birth, I wouldn't be here now without it.. I turned out ok.. I think. I now donate blood. Thank god some one has some common sense and stepped in with these poor babies.
i do think any religion that does not allow a person Mediacl help has something wrong with its teachings -- i worked with a lady who was quite old then, and i was only 16yrs, but she was also a J. Wittness, and never but never took medicine or any such thing, she did however live to her 80,s ... but i could Not do it
It makes me so angry when people can judge others so cruelly without looking in to why they are doing what they are doing. Did it not occur to you that these people can love their children just as much as any one else. as magnius said the bible clearly states to not take blood. Who among you say you believe in the bible but take the bits out they don't like just to suite themselves. obviously these people are far from hypocrites because they are making a stand for something they believe in. just suppose god is real and everything the bible says is true now god tells you to do something so important or loose your eternal life. Do you allow the one thing most dear to you to die so it can live forever , or do you let it live but loose its eternal life. I am not saying agree with what they are doing I'm saying have some compassion as these peoples hearts are probably being ripped out for what they believe is the right reason. I know you will be thinking bloody nutters but once again try to imagine that god is real and the bible is real, who knows on judgement day you may just find out.
I agree with you smurf,and i wonder if those parents aren't secretly relieved that the decision has been taken out of their hands?They must have been devastated to know their unborn twins needed something that their religion forbade,in order to survive.Imagine carrying twins for all those weeks,giving birth to them and then facing losing them, even though you know a transfusion can save them. Thank goodness the judge showed some common sense and i hope the babies go on to live long lives. I cannot understand the reasoning behind this religious dogma.
i however could not make this one i know that it is in the jehovah witness belife not to take blood but i dont think i could sit and watch my babies die for the want of blood but thats me it must be so hard for them and i guess it woud be going against every thing they belive in i always remember a story my nan told me about how she used to be a nurse and held a childs hand while he died for the want of a blood transfussion and that it really upset her i guess its the same thing in this situation i would love to be able to understand so many things about this religoin but i find it very hard to. I do feel very sorry for the parents for the situation they are in
Unfortunately that with religion they believe that is God's will and that if the babies die then that was God's wish and that they are with him so it is not a sad thing. I couldnt' do it myself and don't condone it but can understand the basis of their view. I imagine it would be very upsetting for them that the courts will do what is in the child's best interest regardless of their faith. Wouldn't want to get involved in something like this and have to pick sides as can see both even though I am not religious.
You decide to abort a child to accommodate a lifestyle. That's OK for many You decide to not use one treatment on religious ground among other treatment available, that's inhuman. It's easy to get into the hype. It's harder to think.
lulu magnius is saying that the bible doesnt say you cannot accept blood, it doesnt say that in so many words its how people choose to interperate what is written.They have to be admired in a way that they believe in something so much they will do this and remember they believe that god will chose what is right they dont expect their child to die.There is a machine available that takes blood out of a body and duplicates it, puts it back into the persons body and they can use this, I remember this was mentioned in the case of the mother of the twins who died after refusing a transfusion, this wasnt made available to her. They can have their blood cleaned and reused etc just not other peoples blood
i think it is shocking that the parents would risk their babies death on religious grounds. if they refuse for themselves, let them, but a baby can't make the decision if it wants blood or not, if it needs it to survive, then the baby needs it, full stop. once the twins are old enough and decide they too want to become jehovas witnesses, then it is up to them, but until then if their survival depends on a transfusion they should receive it. it would not surprise me if the parents disown their twins, happens before. just shocking... i heard of patients who received blood or had a transplant and asked not to tell their family, because of their so-called religion the family would have disowned them if they knew... what kind of religion is that???
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