mother dies after refusing blood transfusion

World UK

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A very sad story from England.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/shropshire/7078455.stm

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

Jehovah's Witness Emma Gough, 22, from Telford, Shropshire, gave birth on 25 October.

Everyone was thinking this? I beg to differ.:down:

As far as "why come to the hospital at all?", hospitals do a lot more than administer blood products.

I beg to differ too . . .but in a different way (although I agree with your point too). Lots of people on this thread have commented on how this makes them feel regarding leaving behind children due to what some of us consider a misinterpretation.

However, again . . I can't argue with their right to do so.

It is a difficult situation because there are children involved.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
I beg to differ too . . .but in a different way (although I agree with your point too). Lots of people on this thread have commented on how this makes them feel regarding leaving behind children due to what some of us consider a misinterpretation.

However, again . . I can't argue with their right to do so.

It is a difficult situation because there are children involved.

Misinterpretation of scripture?

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This is a difficult scenario, regardless of the article saying a blood transfusion would not have saved her. In this particular case, what everyone is arguing about didn't actually happen. But, it does make us think about the "what if?".

What if, in this case, blood would have helped?

I too believe that everyone has a right to self-determination. Medical care cannot be forced on adults. There is a grayer area in regards to children.

I disagree with the interpretation that Jehovah's Witnesses make about the verse regarding blood. So, that makes it harder for me because I think the mom, if blood would have saved her, was wrong in her interpretation. So, she leaves children behind for a false interpretation.

However, everyone is entitled to believe what they want.

Life is difficult in a free society . . . . but I wouldn't want a society that dictates our religious beliefs.

We have freedom of religion as a foundation of our Constitution. The mother has a right to refuse blood products.

And we have a right to be sad about it.

There really is no other option . . . . unless we want to live in a dictatorship that tells us how to live, think, feel . . .

steph

Yes, I mentioned that before.

steph

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The best thing is to go to their website and read.

http://www.watchtower.org/e/200608/article_03.htm

Genesis 9:4 "But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it."

There are other passages you can see on the website.

I personally think they misinterpret this - eating is not the same as blood transfusions.

But, as I said, this is America and we have freedom of religion.

It becomes a bit stickier when kids are involved.

steph

And also here.

steph

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I agree 100%.

Well, lets see if I can tiptoe around peoples feelings enough to avoid violating ToS :uhoh3:

Generally speaking, religion is the root of all evil in this world from what I've seen. It doesn't matter what religion you are, what antiquated superstitious beliefs you hold, in the end lots of people suffer because of religion. Everyone gets so huffy about their beliefs that were handed to them from their parents, who got it from their parents and so on and so on. No one has any real personal stake in these beliefs other than the negative consequences of people holding said beliefs.

I don't want to seem like I'm anti (insert your particular religion here), the truth is I think any personal set of beliefs that result in bringing more tragedy to the world are bad. In this thread alone, we have a mother who refused to do whatever was necessary to protect her life and the future happiness of her children. Now her children will never know a mothers love, and their lives will be just a little bit sadder because of her decision, the world a little bit darker. We also have other people in this thread who are angry and bitter over the perceived slights to their religions, which is a bit humorous since all these religions are supposed to be about love, rainbows, butterfly kisses and forgiveness ;)

Lets be real about this. If you choose to die, then that is your right as a human being, but at least have the decency to call it what it is, suicide, and to not leave behind other people who desperately need you. Hiding behind religion is kind of weak in my opinion. I know nursing school instructs us to respect the religion of others, but to me that just means I will keep my mouth shut, not that I respect your religion. If you make a really bad decision concerning your medical treatment because of your beliefs, rather than the facts I present you with.....I won't think your heroic, I will think your ignorant and wonder at what effect your senseless death will have on the rest of society.

Just my opinion and for all of you who get all butthurt over non-believers, I'll be the first to admit I don't have all the answers.....there's always the chance you'll be on the other side of the pearly gate laughing your ass off when its my turn to answer for my earthly deeds :lol2:

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

I agree with you on the misinterpretation of scripture. There are so many Christian sects in America today, everyone seems to have a different slant of scripture. But, we have freedom of religion here. I like the JW even though I don't agree with their beliefs. They don't have fanatics bombing people, their only annoying trait is neighborhood witnessing, which seems to drive some people bonkers, but it doesn't bother me since they are always polite, and they have one magazine that has interesting news items of general interest that I always enjoy.

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Everyone was thinking this? I beg to differ.:down:

As far as "why come to the hospital at all?", hospitals do a lot more than administer blood products.

\

I guess I should have been more specific when I said I thanked her for her comment. What I meant was that I agree with her when she said that she would have been more upset than "well that was her choice". I think I would've had to walk away from being assigned to this patient because of MY religious beliefs. I think what this mother did was just this side of suicide. I also think that JWs misinterpret this scripture and this time, to this mother's own detriment. I have nothing against JWs. I have a really good friend who is one. They are good people. But just because they have the right to choose based on religious beliefs doesn't mean that I have to agree with them. I feel sorry for all who were involved in this: the young woman's family, friends, staff of the hospital, etc. You are right about one thing though, it was her decision. However, I think that her decision was based on misinterpretation.:o

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Specializes in Foot Care.

A lot of JWs refuse blood because they do not understand the WTS's convoluted watering-down of their blood transfusion ideology.

The WTS currently leaves treatments involving blood fractions up to the individual JW's conscience. Infusions of the four major components (plasma, RBCs, WBCs, platelets) are not allowed, however fractions of those components are permitted.

bloodchartA.jpg

This has changed from the original "NO BLOOD" position from the 50's and 60's.

There have been numerous changes in this policy over the years, and many JWs are ignorant of these changes, or are so overwhelmed by the medical terminology that their "default position" is NO BLOOD, just to be on the safe side. They are more concerned about offending their god, than they are about leaving a child without a mother.

The Historical Perspective documents these changes or "clarifications" to the WTS's blood transfusion position.

An analogy that I have used with colleagues with a measure of success is that JWs value the symbol of life that blood represents over life itself. The mindset is similar to the hypothetical man who is confronted by a bandit who threatens to shoot the man's wife if he doesn't surrender his wedding ring. But rather than give up the ring (the symbol of the marriage) he allows his wife (the other party in his marriage, the woman he loves) to be harmed or even killed. The framework just doesn't make sense.

Would god expect anyone to sacrifice another person's life to satisfy a rule or principle? According to the Mosaic Law, if a life was at stake whether it was human or animal, it was permissible to suspend the Ten Commandments or any of the other laws in the Pentateuch.

Human sacrifice was considered by God to be a repugnant practice, "a thing that I had not commanded and that had not come up into my heart", is it any less repugnant now, even in the medical arena, if we believe that God's standards never change? (Jeremiah 7:31; 19:5; 32:35)

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A lot of JWs refuse blood because they do not understand the WTS's convoluted watering-down of their blood transfusion ideology.

The WTS currently leaves treatments involving blood fractions up to the individual JW's conscience. Infusions of the four major components (plasma, RBCs, WBCs, platelets) are not allowed, however fractions of those components are permitted.

bloodchartA.jpg

This has changed from the original "NO BLOOD" position from the 50's and 60's.

There have been numerous changes in this policy over the years, and many JWs are ignorant of these changes, or are so overwhelmed by the medical terminology that their "default position" is NO BLOOD, just to be on the safe side. They are more concerned about offending their god, than they are about leaving a child without a mother.

The Historical Perspective documents these changes or "clarifications" to the WTS's blood transfusion position.

An analogy that I have used with colleagues with a measure of success is that JWs value the symbol of life that blood represents over life itself. The mindset is similar to the hypothetical man who is confronted by a bandit who threatens to shoot the man's wife if he doesn't surrender his wedding ring. But rather than give up the ring (the symbol of the marriage) he allows his wife (the other party in his marriage, the woman he loves) to be harmed or even killed. The framework just doesn't make sense.

Would god expect anyone to sacrifice another person's life to satisfy a rule or principle? According to the Mosaic Law, if a life was at stake whether it was human or animal, it was permissible to suspend the Ten Commandments or any of the other laws in the Pentateuch.

Human sacrifice was considered by God to be a repugnant practice, "a thing that I had not commanded and that had not come up into my heart", is it any less repugnant now, even in the medical arena, if we believe that God's standards never change? (Jeremiah 7:31; 19:5; 32:35)

I agree with you I think. What is WTS? Forgive me for being ignorant.

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Specializes in Foot Care.

WTS = WatchTower Society = the legal corporation that directs the activities of Jehovah's Witnesses world wide.

That's why their website is www.watchtower.org instead of www(dot)jehovahswitness(dot)com

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well, lets see if i can tiptoe around peoples feelings enough to avoid violating tos :uhoh3:

lets be real about this. if you choose to die, then that is your right as a human being, but at least have the decency to call it what it is, suicide, and to not leave behind other people who desperately need you. hiding behind religion is kind of weak in my opinion. i know nursing school instructs us to respect the religion of others, but to me that just means i will keep my mouth shut, not that i respect your religion. if you make a really bad decision concerning your medical treatment because of your beliefs, rather than the facts i present you with.....i won't think your heroic, i will think your ignorant and wonder at what effect your senseless death will have on the rest of society.

:lol2:

the irony in this just amazes me. we can force medical treatment on suicide attempts. when an overdose comes into the er and they try to refuse treatment (gastric lavage), we just tie them down and give them some versed or something so we can make them open their mouth, then we stuff a tube down their throat and suck out their stomach contents - all against their will. then we get to do it all over again a month later. i feel that yes, you will die sooner or later. if jws have the right to refuse treatment that could save their life, then so should every one else.

why is there a difference when it is called religious beliefs? if a person wants to die, so be it. i am a nurse to help those who need and want my help. if they want to die, they should have that right.

it is very sad indeed when there are children involved and people are left behind, but people who really want to live, die every day, it is life.:)

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Specializes in Occ health, Med/surg, ER.
To die and leave your child or children over a religion or belief is just ridiculous. To have faith is one thing, but to believe in something you've never seen, heard, felt, or touched over something that you can (a child) is beyond something I'll ever understand and hope that I never do. Brainwashing is real and we just witnessed it with this thread. I would die to save my children, but would I die for the unknown, heck NO!!!!! Bash on believers!!!

Whoa there....Be carefull......

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