Homo economicus’ Weblog

“A young mother has died after giving birth to twins, amid claims that she had refused a blood transfusion because of her faith.”

So starts the BBC News Website article on a 22 year old woman that after giving birth, with complications, refused a blood transfusion based on Watchtower and Bible Tract Society Teachings – Jehovah’s Witnesses dogma.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/7078455.stm

As you will have seen in my blogs on the subject I am against the misrepresenting of blood that the Society teaches and concerned that anyone should think that a child that cannot understand such a teaching should die based on their parents belief.

Yet, I have said that an adult has the right to refuse medical treatment even if it means that their life will be forfeit. It is not a question about their belief’s being wrong, but their right to pursue their own course, even if I consider it irrational.

My concern is that their decision should not be based on the downright fraudulent claims made by the Jehovah’s Witnesses about blood transfusions and the effectiveness of alternatives in severe blood cell loss. It is a deceit and a withholding of the facts.

Because it is considered a faith issue and a matter of conscience people seem to tolerate this. Some people will even go as far as tolerating children dying for it, as the thread on the forum demonstrates.

Yet while we allow for the freedom and liberties of others, two twins have been born without a mother having had the chance to actually see them grow up. Not because of the twisted finger of fate, not because it was preordained. Because she believed and the belief was reinforced that blood transfusions are against Jehovah, and that death being the wages of sin then paradise earth beckons in the resurrection.

I may tolerate an adult’s right to refuse treatment to save their life for an insane reason. But I cannot respect it, or praise it or say that as a faith issue it deserves respect. The belief that would allow a mother to put her death before her life for her newborn twins is one that needs challenging.

So please add your voice to being against Jehovah’s Witness dogma here, and help challenge a fringe modern interpretation of an ignorant ancient time.