[Institution Affiliation]
Various Supreme Courts around the world have tried to make rulings on fundamental rights of Jehovah's Witnesses being involved on evangelism. This incident was witnessed in Canada when the Supreme Court listened to a case whereby a parent prohibited her daughter who was only sixteen to undergo a blood transfusion after losing a lot of blood. Jehovah Witnesses believe that it is against the Laws of God to receive or donate blood to others. This is one of the doctrines they are well characterized with all over the world. They believe God is the giver of life hence the reason he should sustain it. According to their beliefs, blood storage is also prohibited.
However, preparation of immunoglobulin’s, albumin and hemophiliac is not prohibited but it is open as a personal decision. The principle came into existence in 1940’s, and experienced little changes if any. Those who receive transfusions or donate blood are taken to be defectors and are excommunicated. A small percentage of Jehovah Witnesses upholds blood transfusion. This principle is based on the Bible verses in Genesis and Leviticus. According to their interpretation, blood can only be removed from a living animal for atonement purposes. The blood that Jesus Christ shed on the cross was enough to save the human race from death and other health issues. According to them, refusing to donate or receive blood is an act of faith. There is no exception in this doctrine even in emergency incidents. One’s blood leaves the body of an animal, it should be disposed. The use of platelets, white blood cells, red blood cells and plasma in medical procedures is also prohibited. The arguments is that they all come from blood and each of them is an important component and therefore inseparable. Other prohibited procedures include allogeneic transfusion.
Sometimes emergency cases arise where blood transfusion is the only solution, and failure to which the patient is lost. The Watch Tower Society allows the doctors to administer the most alternative solution possible with the patients’ decision put into consideration. The society however notes that some patients die as a result of refusing blood transfusion. Some medical doctors ignore the consent of the parents or patient and administer the transfusion. This requires a court decision or sometimes without. The Watch Tower Society employs doctors who obey these doctrines of carrying out medical activities without blood transfusion. A department is set to research on the best medical options away from blood transfusion. This information is disseminated to other medical facilities locally. Many Jehova Witnesses seem to be comfortable with this doctrine since its inception.
In the case under study, doctors tried to administer blood to the young girl but her parents refused on the basis of their religion. Officials from the children’s department moved in to rescue by moving to court to obtain a court order. The court ordered the transfusion to be undertaken by the doctors. The judge ruled that the girl was capable but being a minor, the judge felt that her capability was of no importance to the law that already existed. According to the judge, a young individual is at liberty to the extent of decision independence close or equal to his or her maturity. Reverence for ones desires in the situation of assisting young people to grow in a healthy manner is very important as advised by psychologists.
Reference
Brezina, P. and Moskop, J. (2013). Urgent Medical Decision Making Regarding a
Jehovah’sWitness Mino. 68 (5), pp. 312-315. Retrieved from:
www.ncmedicaljournal.com/wp-content/uploads/NCMJ/sep/brezina.pdf [Accessed:
