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Sick toddler placed under court's care

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Sick toddler placed under court's care

3News NZ

Jehovah's Witnesses allow transplants but reject the blood transfusions that would accompany the operation

Jehovah's Witnesses allow transplants but reject the blood transfusions that would accompany the operation

An Auckland toddler suffering a rare kidney disease has been put under High Court guardianship because her Jehovah's Witness parents will not consent to a life-saving kidney and liver transplant.

The Sunday Star Times reports that the two-year-old, whose identity is suppressed, has had her kidneys removed and is being kept alive by dialysis under the care of a team of specialists.

The Auckland District Health Board went to the High Court last month and sought urgent orders placing the girl under the care of the court.

Justice Helen Winkelmann, who heard the application, said the team had agreed the day before the hearing that without a transplant, the girl would most likely die from infection within months.

"She will most certainly become so unwell within a few weeks that it will not be possible to consider her for a transplant."

Jehovah's Witnesses allow transplants but reject the blood transfusions that would accompany the operation.

Justice Winkelmann's judgement indicated the girl's parents accepted she needed the transplants but could not consent to transfusions.

She ruled that the girl be placed under the court's care but her doctors and parents would be appointed agents, with the specialists treating the girl as they saw fit but the parents in charge of all other aspects of her life.

NZN

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Comments

31/07/2012 3:25:31 p.m.

NMM wrote:

Well done to these parents who put their child's interests ahead of their own. Interesting that even in Australia, the government supports the bloodless solutions.

30/07/2012 11:59:25 a.m.

Moera wrote:

Unless a person is willing to listen and keep an open mind to the belief systems of the Jehovah Witnesses, then these people will never understand WHY these JW parents choose the course of action they do. Putting aside religion...operations and blood transfusion have many risks to consider. As DARG stated the obvious blood transfusion could provide not only a very lethal result for the recipient but also leave that patient in a worse position than the inital illness and in effect degrade that person's enjoyment of life. These parents refuse blood transfusions not the organ and a choice I would support. The medicacl profession can't offer a 100% disease free blood BUT they can offer a 'bloodless' operation

16/07/2012 2:07:04 p.m.

Darg wrote:

Accepting blood has many risk factors, one must remember that blood only last for around 35 days at max under strict storage regulations, thou it is screened for many diseases, infections, and parasites, some diseases may take up 3 months and rare cases 6 months to be actively screened for in the blood, leaving some patients transmitted with deadly diseases by doctors, thou unintentional. Please refer to more information about bloodless surgery options with the all Blood banks as they see the benefit of bloodless surgery. Large scale studies have indicated that people that DO have blood infusions have longer hospital stays and more complications.

15/07/2012 4:26:01 p.m.

Phil wrote:

So sad to see a young person's life placed in danger through the delusional beliefs of parents.

15/07/2012 2:56:35 p.m.

johnmillan wrote:

I say congratulations too the courts,This young soul has a right to be kept alive.Sod the religion they belong too.