B.C. officials will seize sextuplets again if need arises

Officials say that sextuplet infants, seized by the B.C. government for blood transfusions over the objections of their Jehovah’s Witness parents, could be taken again if the need arises.

The original seizure last Friday came after two medical experts advised the B.C. government to take three of the four surviving sextuplets and give two of them blood transfusions. On Wednesday, the government withdrew the order and the parents regained custody. However, the province can move in once again if the circumstances are repeated.

A lawyer for the family has accused the government of violating Supreme Court of Canada directives ensuring parents have a say before such procedures are done over their religious objections.

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

But a section of the B.C. Child, Family and Community Service Act allowed the government to act before the parents had a hearing.

That section says the province’s regional director of child welfare doesn’t need a court order to move in as long as there are “reasonable grounds” to believe the child’s health or safety is in immediate danger.

Source

(Listed if other than Religion News Blog, or if not shown above)
, CP, via the Hamilton Spectator, Feb. 2, 2007, http://www.hamiltonspectator.com

Religion News Blog posted this on Friday February 2, 2007.
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