B.C. government has seized 3 sextuplets for blood transfusions

VANCOUVER — The B.C. government seized three sextuplets last week, allowing doctors to give them blood transfusions against the wishes of their parents, the family’s lawyer says.

Two of the sextuplets have died since the babies were born in the first week of January almost three months premature.

At the time, the parents didn’t want any details about their children released, however they did allow hospital officials to reveal that they are Jehovah’s Witnesses. Their religion does not permit blood transfusions.

Jehovah’s Witnesses and Blood

“[T]he Jehovah’s Witnesses organization prohibits the use of blood transfusions. Individual Jehovah’s Witnesses are expected to die or let their children die, rather than break this command, even though the Scriptures nowhere teach that blood transfusions are wrong.”
Four Dangers of the Jehovah’s Witness Organization

“The family is very upset that the government treated them in the way it did,” said Shane Brady, the lawyer for the family.

“It’s like a hit and run.”

Brady was appearing in B.C. Supreme Court on Wednesday challenging the seizure order, which came without a court hearing, when the government surprisingly withdrew the order.

Minister of Children and Families Tom Christensen refused to discuss the case specifically.

But he said doctors have an obligation to go to ministry authorities when they believe a child is in danger.

Jehovah’s Witnesses

Theologically, Jehovah’s Witnesses are a cult of Christianity. The oppressive organization does not represent historical, Biblical Christianity in any way.

Sociologically, it is a destructive cult whose false teachings frequently result in spiritual and psychological abuse, as well as needless deaths.

In order to be able to support its unbiblical doctrines, the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization has created it’s own version of the Bible. The so-called “New World Translation” is rejected by all Christian denominations.

“It’s a significant event for the state to interfere with a family. We take our obligations very seriously,” Christensen said.

The first of the six babies were born Jan. 6 with the rest born Jan. 7. They were premature at 25 weeks and each was not much bigger than an outstretched hand.

Normally, babies are not born until 40 weeks.

Dr. Liz Whynot, president of B.C. Women’s Hospital, said at the time the babies were almost three months premature and were in fair condition after their births.

Doctors said babies born at that stage have an 80-per-cent chance of surviving to leave the hospital.

But doctors also said at the time that despite the strong odds, the sextuplets would face steep challenges.

The early delivery meant all the babies’ organs were immature, with underdeveloped lungs that required artificial ventilation, and problems with eating.

Underdeveloped immune systems made them more vulnerable to infection.

Source

(Listed if other than Religion News Blog, or if not shown above)
, Canadian Press, via the Toronto Star, Jan. 31, 2007, http://www.thestar.com

Religion News Blog posted this on Thursday February 1, 2007.
Last updated if a date shows here:

   

More About This Subject

AFFILIATE LINKS

Our website includes affiliate links, which means we get a small commission -- at no additional cost to you -- for each qualifying purpose. For instance, as an Amazon Associate, Religion News Blog earns from qualifying purchases. That is one reason why we can provide this research service free of charge.

Speaking of which: One way in which you can support us — at no additional cost to you — is by shopping at Amazon.com.