Kids Trump Religion Over Life!

by Barry Artiste | May 23, 2008 at 06:01 am

865 views | 11 Recommendations | 6 comments

Opinion
Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor

Jehovah's Witnesses, we have all seen them on street corners passively passing out the "WatchTower" to pedestrians. They are hard to miss, with their button down suits and permanent smiles, smiles that look as if someone stuck an "Upside Down Coathanger" in their mouth.

Jehovahs have always been at odds against the Government who interfere with their wishes to avoid Blood Transfusions at all costs, even if it means the death of their children. Certainly a moral quandary, where Life is paramount, but Jehovah's place religion "Higher than Life" it seems.

The Governments arguement is that they speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, namely children, as minors may not realise the consequences of their actions beliveing their religion will save them. The cemetary is full of religious believers who felt that Religion over Medicine was their ticket to life.

When Aids reared it's ugly head in the early 1980's , Jehovah Witnesses warned of the impending Apocolypse and smug in their beliefs Aids is transmitted through Blood and Bodily Fluids seem to have court advantage, as their 2,000 year old Ancient Gospel had warned of this plague.

The one positive side in all this are medical advances made in Bloodless Surgery, which due in part to Jehovahs witnesses reluctance to have Blood Transfusions has forced the Medical Community to come up with alternatives, which they have and thus Blood Transfusions for the most part are not necessary.

Perhaps one day, hopefully soon, Jehovah's Witnesses will abandon their ridiculous belief that God opposes blood transfusions.

Until then, it's up to the state to continue to protect minors who need medical treatment from the religious beliefs of their parents and religious leaders.

Every so often, you hear of minors who refuse blood transfusions because they've been led to believe that a practising Jehovah's Witness would never undergo such a procedure. Inevitably, the government steps in and ensures the treatment goes ahead.

The rationale behind the state's involvement is simple and necessary. Saving the lives of children is more important than bowing to the senseless and potentially damaging dictates of religion.

This week, the Supreme Court of Canada heard the case of a former Winnipeg teen who was given a blood transfusion against her will in 2006 when she was 14.

In an affidavit to the Supreme Court, the teen compared the experience to "being raped and violated." Her reaction is undoubtedly heartfelt, but it underscores the necessity of promoting the best interests of children in such circumstances.

GOOD ARTICLE!

I worked with a lady whose only child, her son, has sickle cell anemia. When he has a crisis, the government has to step in and order his transfusions. I recall once she got very nervous because the social worker was late coming -- boy! Maybe one day they'll be VERY late coming, and I know in her heart she counts on the government being there to relieve her of the need to sign for his transfusion. That way, she can keep her son and her good standing with her religious group. What if they ever stopped ordering transfusions in life and death decisions for the children of parents in this religious group? If it were not for the innocent lives that might be sacrificed, it might be interesting to see.

Mary

Jehovah's Witnesses blood transfusion confusion

Simple fact-The Bible does not prohibit Blood transfusions.If you are bleeding to death it is more dangerous to refuse a blood transfusions than to take one.
Bloodless surgeries are great if they can be elective.1/3rd of all trauma deaths are from blood loss.

Jehovah's Witnesses elders will investigate and disfellowship any Jehovah Witness who takes a blood transfusion,to say the issue is a 'personal conscience matter' is subterfuge to keep the Watchtower out of lawsuits..

Jehovah's Witnesses children die every year worldwide due to blood transfusion ban.Rank & file Jehovah's Witness are indoctrinated to be scared to death of blood
FYI
1) JW's DO USE many parts aka 'fractions' aka components of blood,so if it's 'sacred' to God why the hypocritical contradiction flip-flop?

2) They USE blood collections that are donated by Red Cross and others but don't donate back,more hypocrisy.

3) The Watchtower promotes and praises bloodless elective surgeries,this is a great advancement indeed.BUT it's no good to me if I am bleeding to death from a car crash and lose much of my blood volume and need EMERGENCY blood transfusion.

Remember the Jehovah's Witnesses use thousands and thousands of pints of blood donated by others.They use 60% of the blood volume as broken down "fractions" then go on Bible thumping rants about how dangerous and sinful blood transfusions are.

( JW do allow organ transplants which has more risk than whole blood transfusions so their arguments of disease transmission is bogus)

Know this,the reason that JW refuse blood is because of their spin on the 3000 year old Biblical old testament,modern medicine will eventually make blood donations and transfusions a thing of the past.When this technology happens it won't vindicate the Jehovah's Witnesses and all the deaths that have occurred so far.

The Watchtower's rules against blood transfusions will eventually be abolished (very gradually to reduce wrongful death lawsuit liability) even now most of the blood 'components' are allowed.

They are such hypocrites!

http://www.ajwrb.org/ Jehovah Witness blood policy reform site

Will you die for a lie?
http://www.towertotruth.net/Articles/blood_transfusions.htm

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recommend This comment thread is now closed

BigT

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 15:16 on May 23rd, 2008

Barry, any idea when Canada's Human Rights Commission will go after the Edmonton Sun for their intolerance against Jehovah's Witnesses?

But in all seriousness, where should the line be drawn? When is it OK for the government to go in and take a kid away from their parents or to force the parents into doing something they don't think is right for their children?

I think you and I agree that individual freedom is one of the most important things on this planet. Should we let the government basically raise children?

Heck, what am I saying, they already do raise kids from morning until the afternoon (sometimes late afternoon) here in California.

Barry Artiste

at 16:08 on May 23rd, 2008

Thanks for the comments Big T and the GS, Sometimes it is okay for governments to step in and sometimes it is best for them to step away. To save the life of a child, I think I would be with the government on this one.

duo

at 21:36 on May 24th, 2008

at 22:13 on May 24th, 2008

Certainly a quandary Mary, I mean how can anyone be part of a religion that allows children to die?

I do thank you for your comments as well!~

DannyHaszard

at 14:11 on May 29th, 2008

at 15:22 on May 29th, 2008

Thanks for the commentary Danny, and excellent addition to this important story., I am truly appreciative

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