Court (and science) saves Jehovah's Witness girl's life

A south African high court order giving a hospital permission to give a 12 year old girl with Leukemia a crucial blood transfusion against her parents wishes was granted the same day it was requested.

The Gauteng Department of Health said doctors consulted the girl's parents, Jehovah witnesses, and church elders to explain the need for the transfusion. When their explanations were rejected, they brought an urgent application before the High Court on Wednesday. The court order was issued on the same day and the girl was given a transfusion immediately.

SA Human Rights Commission chairperson Jody Kollapen said that in such cases, the right to life took precedence over the right to religion.

He said adults were regarded as fit to make informed decisions about their own bodies, but in the case of a child, state intervention was sometimes necessary.

Three cheers for the SA high court.

Denying a child vital medical treatment is as abhorrent as denying them food or water and i don't care what your religion says about it.

 

I find it quite interesting that people are proud when a son dies in war, defending their country. Or people honor others who 'bravely' turn down traditional cancer treatments and try alternative therapies. But because "blood is the gift of life", people instantly say it's crazy to turn it down.

 

You know, I haven't any problem with people refusing a medical treatment. If this girl truly refused transfusions, I'd say she has that right, it is her life.
What I object to is parents making this choice for someone who has not had the opportunity to make an independent decision.

 

I personally wouldn't honour someone who turns down proven medical treatments in favour of unproven "alternative therapies", But if they are an adult they can do what they want. The person in question here is a 12 year old child.

I agree completely, when it's an adult. But as she is a child the grown ups have to make the decision for her. And in cases where her parents make the wrong decisions we have to step in.

I mean, we don't let children decided if they want to go to school, drink scotch, own a gun or drive a car so why should be let them decide if they want medical treatment. And let's not pretend the child had made an informed decision, She was raised being told that god hates people who take blood.

What if she was raised being told that god loves people who cut them selves or people who die from starvation? would you support her right to cut or starve herself?

Let's stop giving religion a free pass to abuse children and let's stop right now.

 

A cool decision by SA courts!

 

This was a great decision. I know that people all have their own beliefs and things but when it comes to something like this where there is help at saving a life than rather there be suffering I think the help is something that needs to be put first. So 2 thumbs up here.

 

This is what happens when you don't follow the word of God and try to come up with your own religion.

Peace,

 

Are you serious? JH is based very tightly on Scripture, more so than other Christians. There is an awful lot of confusion, and I don't recognize the authority of any book to replace my thinking, but you did know that the transfusion refusion is based on their literal interpretation of the Bible.

So if by "word of God" you mean this book, I'm afraid your meaning is lost. If you are referring to some other "word of God"-the Koran, for example-how would this girl be better off? She'd likely face a forced marriage.

Jehovah's Witnesses are ill-informed, but a failure to be slavish to Scripture is not their main failing, and it is certainly not the problem here.

If anything, an excess of following the "word of God" is responsible.

I have no idea, either, what you mean by "try to come up with your own religion". These people didn't invent JH. They are good sheep, just like you.

Are you attempting to contrast JH with your own denomination, which of course was personally founded by God (it says so on the dedication page of your holy book, I presume?)

 

No, it's what happens when you assume a god exists and insist you know what his opinions on trivial matters are.

 

Its all about moderation, compassion, caring and kindness. Do you think Jesus would have stood there and let this girl go without a blood transfusion???? Heck, he would have given it to her himself. He also gave examples in the bible that every law isnt rigidly set. He even practiced this himself as he healed people on the sabbath.

Its rediculous that her parents are doing this to her. Senseless, uncaring, stoic and robotic.
Where is the love, where is the heart?

 

JH is a fake religion, trying to associate itself with Christianity. I mean come on, the basis of the religion and Jehovah is a joke in itself.

I can come up with any rule if I take things out of context like you did with the above verses.

Christians are not allowed to drink blood, period. Any other conclusion you come up with is just your own.

Peace,

 

Actually, no it's not. I think you are all rather misinformed and ignorant to let ancient literature replace your thinking.

But these conclusions are not mine. They belong to the Jehovah's Witnesses. I am not one. And I have sold my plasma for groceries.

Please, tell me your denomination so I can be specific in comparing your creed with theirs. My guess is that you are one of those Protestants who think that only Protestants are Christian. Go on, name your church.

 

I'm glad that incase I need something like that I won't be held back.

 

As one of Jehovah's Witnesses, I'm going to have to disagree with you on that one. Lack of information is not our main failing either! In fact, recently when my wife had a baby, we were discussing options with our OB, and he stated "well it looks like you know more about blood than I do".

We put extensive research into bloodless surgery/medicine, because we highly value life for ourselves and our children, and want the absolute best care possible. We simply won't trespass on rules (not principles, but rules) in the scriptures, at the cost that entails.

Moderation? The bible says not to overdrink or over-eat, so we enjoy both in moderation. It doesn't say not to over-accept blood. It says to abstain. Abstain != moderation.

Jesus was extremely caring, but he would not do anything that would overstep scriptural law (read Matthew 4), or decide for himself what was right or wrong. He was humble enough to recognize that the Giver of life has the right to set boundaries around how we use that life.

That's harsh! Care to substantiate your base insults??

OK, so the next time an alcoholic has a bottle of scotch injected into his veins with IV (though his doctor prohibited it), he can quote you as a reference.

 

So, frank, ever eat pork? How about shellfish? Work on Saturday?

I'm sorry if "ill-informed" hurts you, but that has been my experience. Not your fault, though, and not for lack of trying. I've seen more willingness to look at the Hebrew meaning of the OT among your denomination than any other.

And I respect the right of anyone, adult or child, to refuse blood or any other medical service. I don't support parents making that decision for children old enough to have an opinion.

 

Haha, that's law code. I love pork! And I love shellfish. But I do hate working on Saturdays, or weekends altogether for that matter.

We're not under the law anymore.

 

Frank, your twisting my words and its so convenient that when you talk moderation you forget to say that the sabbath is a day of rest and jesus broke that law by working on the sabbath and i wont get into the secrecy of the JW's bible and the men who determine its interpretation as I allready had that debate with someone long ago. Jesus also talked about anything that is done in secrecy and who is behind it. Secret council??????
Can give me the names of the committee members who produced and authored their new world bible.

Remember again what Jesus himself says about secrecy

 

It must be so convenient to be able to, in one breath, claim a text is divinely inspired and then, in the next breath, cherry pick which bits you believe in at any given time. It's almost as if you use is solely to bolster views you already have and ignore anything which demands you refrain from doing things you enjoy.

I take it you believe in the ten commandments?

 

So why follow the blood law? Same thing.

 

This is turning out to be an interesting discussion. I'm glad we have Frank sharing his opinions here.