Irish High Court grants transfusion order for Jehovah’s Witness baby

Ireland’s High Court has made an order allowing the Coombe Hospital in Dublin to carry out an emergency blood transfusion on a baby girl born prematurely last week.

The Irish Independent says

The baby, who weighs less than one kilogram, was born in the Coombe hospital in Dublin to Jehovah’s Witness parents, who have refused to agree to a blood transfusion should it become necessary. […]

Members of the Jehovah’s Witness church believe that passages of the Bible forbid blood transfusions. Members who do accept such treatment can be cast out of the church.

According to RTE

Doctors said [the baby] was at risk of infection and a range of other complications and a blood transfusion could be required.
Because her condition could deteriorate rapidly, a court order was needed in advance to allow the hospital administer life saving treatment.

The baby’s father told the High Court they were very happy with the treatment their daughter received to date but could not consent to a blood transfusion.

He said: “We love our girl, we want the best treatment for her.

This is a very difficult time for us and we would like all other options to be tried first.” […]

Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy granted an order allowing the hospital to give the necessary treatment to the baby but told her father he could re-apply to the court in future if her condition changed and he was unhappy about any aspect of her treatment.

The Watch Tower Society, the organization Jehovah’s Witnesses serve, is considered to be theologically a cult of Christianity.

Among other things that means the teaching and practices of Jehovah’s Witnesses are outside the boundaries of historic, Biblical Christianity.

Sociologically the high-demand organization has cult-like elements as well.

The organization’s teaching about blood transfusions are not Biblical, and have led to many unnecessary deaths. The Watch Tower Society itself has often flip-flopped on the issue, and the record shows the men making these determinations are clueless.

Since the Bible does not support Jehovah’s Witnesses theology, the organization has produced its own ‘translation.’

In the past, Coombe Hospital has won a number of court orders regarding blood transfusion for Jehovah’s Witnesses or their offspring.

Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse blood transfusions?
Research resources on Jehovah’s Witnesses

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Religion News Blog posted this on Friday September 23, 2011.
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