Lady Refuses Transfusion Due To Religion

[Arthurgray50@blu]

I have read an article on woman, who gave birth, but passed away as she refused a blood tranfusion, on the grounds that she was a Jehovahs Witness, l just cannot believe some people, there are now alternatives to this problem, but we have them knocking my door, and it really annoys me when they say, that by there religion, it does say, that they are not allowed to accept this, l respect all religions, but l don't believe this one should be, on the grounds that, you must save life at all costs, life is a precious item, whatever your religion, and blood is what keeps you alive, what do other forum members think.

[Nugget]

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

I have read an article on woman, who gave birth, but passed away as she refused a blood tranfusion, on the grounds that she was a Jehovahs Witness, l just cannot believe some people, there are now alternatives to this problem, but we have them knocking my door, and it really annoys me when they say, that by there religion, it does say, that they are not allowed to accept this, l respect all religions, but l don't believe this one should be, on the grounds that, you must save life at all costs, life is a precious item, whatever your religion, and blood is what keeps you alive, what do other forum members think.

Personally, I feel that, if she was a strict enough Jehovahs Witness to refuse the transfusion, then fair play to her - she would have known the risks involved in refusing it, and had to make the choice.

Moreover, it also meant that the blood in question would then be available for someone who did want it. As much as life is precious, it's also, to a certain degree, up to us whether we want to risk it

[Knobbly]

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

I have read an article on woman, who gave birth, but passed away as she refused a blood tranfusion, on the grounds that she was a Jehovahs Witness, l just cannot believe some people, there are now alternatives to this problem, but we have them knocking my door, and it really annoys me when they say, that by there religion, it does say, that they are not allowed to accept this, l respect all religions, but l don't believe this one should be, on the grounds that, you must save life at all costs, life is a precious item, whatever your religion, and blood is what keeps you alive, what do other forum members think.

I think that people trying to deny other people their beliefs are far worse.

[homealone]

Originally Posted by Nugget

Personally, I feel that, if she was a strict enough Jehovahs Witness to refuse the transfusion, then fair play to her - she would have known the risks involved in refusing it, and had to make the choice.

Moreover, it also meant that the blood in question would then be available for someone who did want it. As much as life is precious, it's also, to a certain degree, up to us whether we want to risk it

Fair point, but my personal view is that the twins now don't have a mother & I can't help feeling that concern for them should have influenced her decision
more than her compliance with the dogma of her religion?

[David F]

Anyone who believes a Christian faith should follow the word of the bible to the letter or be a hypocrite to their God. There is alternatives to real blood products and the JW's have a hospital liason commitee in place to get the best treatment possible for the needs keeping with the religion. The press is always happy to bad mouth the JW's im sure if you looked deeply into the case it would not be as cut and dried as the press make out..How can you state you respect all religions but then be prejudiced against this one?

[Nugget]

Originally Posted by homealone

Fair point, but my personal view is that the twins now don't have a mother & I can't help feeling that concern for them should have influenced her decision
more than her compliance with the dogma of her religion?

And therein lies the problem with some of the more 'extreme' tenets of any religion - it's unfortunate that, as a result of this womans belief, the children will not grow up with their mother, but her religious faith was enough for her to accept that as a risk

[skyblueheroes]

How selfish. These twins now don't have a mother. Sorry, but I cannot agree with it.

[homealone]

Originally Posted by Nugget

And therein lies the problem with some of the more 'extreme' tenets of any religion - it's unfortunate that, as a result of this womans belief, the children will not grow up with their mother, but her religious faith was enough for her to accept that as a risk

True, plus I take Zinglebarb's point that you can't be just a little bit religious - i.e. you can't just pick the bits you want to believe.

I don't honestly know what I would have done in her case, which is where I have the problem, I'm not saying she was wrong to 'keep the faith', just that I can't put myself in her place...

[David F]

Everyone except me appears to have assumed what ever the article was was accurate.

A devote JW has no fear of death they have a very strong belief that they will be resurrected to a life on paradise earth without these fears they live a mellow happy life they are all content with there lot. Not many people in this world can say the same thing

[Damien]

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

Anyone who believes a Christian faith should follow the word of the bible to the letter or be a hypocrite to their God. There is alternatives to real blood products and the JW's have a hospital liason commitee in place to get the best treatment possible for the needs keeping with the religion. The press is always happy to bad mouth the JW's im sure if you looked deeply into the case it would not be as cut and dried as the press make out..How can you state you respect all religions but then be prejudiced against this one?

I think some religions are worse and ,for want of a better word, less credible than others. Scientology and JW's being among them. Some act as a faith which provides religious/moral/social support to their community (More common forms of Christianity) and others act in a far more controlling and bizarre way more akin to a cult than to other faiths.

Although they defend it as being true to the bible, the strict nature of the church and the underlining hostility to other religions and disrepect for others (in my experence) show a very dark side which can be traced upwards as their leaders discourge social contact outside the church and are of course, all very rich. As far as I can tell.


---------- Post added at 14:15 ---------- Previous post was at 14:14 ----------

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

Everyone except me appears to have assumed what ever the article was was accurate.

A devote JW has no fear of death they have a very strong belief that they will be resurrected to a life on paradise earth without these fears they live a mellow happy life they are all content with there lot. Not many people in this world can say the same thing

I agree it was her right to choose, although I disagree with her choice. I think children and the value of life should come above religion.

---------- Post added at 14:18 ---------- Previous post was at 14:15 ----------

Originally Posted by homealone

True, plus I take Zinglebarb's point that you can't be just a little bit religious - i.e. you can't just pick the bits you want to believe.

I don't honestly know what I would have done in her case, which is where I have the problem, I'm not saying she was wrong to 'keep the faith', just that I can't put myself in her place...

JW's tend to be quite serious in their religion, you dont really get a casual member, almost of defination it requires a strict adherence to the bible and their faith.

[David F]

Edit walking away from this thread

[Nugget]

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

Everyone except me appears to have assumed what ever the article was was accurate.

A devote JW has no fear of death they have a very strong belief that they will be resurrected to a life on paradise earth without these fears they live a mellow happy life they are all content with there lot. Not many people in this world can say the same thing

I haven't assumed that it's accurate zing - I've just replied based on what it says, regardless of the veracity of it

[rogermevans]

so some here seem to think that people havnt the right to choose their own path if it affects others

do they say this about those who risk their life walking on mountains fighting for their country in iraq ( etc )

mind you if we say you cant choose at least the nhs could do exactly what it wants then as obviously they always are right in what ever they do in hospital
could save loads in litigation and keeping those pesky patients who take to long to cure or take up bed space


and as to the ideas some have about JW's may be if you could back up some of those statements they might be worth making

[TheNorm]

Originally Posted by homealone

... you can't just pick the bits you want to believe......

Sometimes it is necessary, as there are a few contradictions within the Bible. For example, did Judas Iscariot return the thirty pieces of silver and hang himself (Matthew) or did he use the money to buy a field, in which he fell over and his intestines burst out (Acts)?

[Nugget]

Originally Posted by rogermevans

<snip>and as to the ideas some have about JW's may be if you could back up some of those statements they might be worth making

What ideas? I don't think anyone's said anything particularly bad about them...