Teenage Jehovah’s Witness refuses blood transfusion and dies

A teenage Jehovah’s Witness who was crushed by a car refused a blood transfusion before he died.

Joshua McAuley, 15, is understood to have declined the treatment advised by doctors and was not overruled by members of his family.
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The teenager was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Smethwick.
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Would You Trust The WatchTower Society?

While the Watchtower Society (the organization behind Jehovah’s Witnesses) claims to represent God, its leaders can not make up their minds about what He says.

They have come up with their own version of the Bible (necessary to support the organization’s unbiblical teachings), constantly go back and forth on a wide variety of issues, and keep getting their prophecies about the end of the world wrong. See these quotes — from their own publications — for documentation.

Here is the Watchtower’s history on the issue of blood. Many Jehovah’s Witnesses (or their kids) have died as a result of that nonsense. Would you trust your life — and that of your loved ones — to these quacks?

Theologically, Jehovah’s Witnesses is a cult of Christianity.

Sociologically, the movement has cult-like elements as well.

Explanation: Sociological vs. theological definitions of the term ‘cult.’

Research resources on Jehovah’s Witnesses

Comments & resources by ReligionNewsBlog.com

A spokesman from Selly Oak hospital said: “There’s not one single policy and not one single law regarding transfusions. There’s no automatic right to override parental wishes or that of a minor. It’s a very complex area that has to be approached on a case by case basis. ”

Jehovah’s Witnesses are taught that passages of the Bible forbid blood transfusions. Members who do accept such treatment can be cast out of the church. Many Jehovah’s Witnesses carry a signed and witnessed advance directive card absolutely refusing blood and releasing doctors from any liability arising from this refusal.

Clive Parker, an elder at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses where Joshua and his family worshipped, said: “I believe he was conscious enough after the accident and he made a stand on the blood issue. He made the choice personally.”

From a legal point of view doctors who administer blood in the face of refusal by a patient may be unlawful and could lead to criminal and/or civil proceedings.

There have been cases where doctors have gone to court to get permission to give blood to children against the wishes of parents who are Jehovah’s Witnesses.

If doctors consider a minor to be competent they can consent to medical treatment, but their refusal can be overruled by the consent of a person with parental authority or by the court.

If the child is deemed not legally competent, consent will need to be obtained from someone with parental responsibility, unless it is an emergency.

Emergency treatment can be provided without consent to save the life of, or prevent serious deterioration in the health of, a child or young person.
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