Refusing blood cost Jehovah's Witness her life

Cookie_Monster

I know this has probably come up a few times over the years but yet again religion ****s up someone life for no good reason...

Link

A JEHOVAH’S Witness who refused a blood transfusion in hospital had a 98pc chance of surviving the bleed that killed her – if she had been given the procedure, an inquest was told yesterday.

Grieving husband Philip Baxter said his wife Anita (56) “did not want to die” but “did not want a blood transfusion”. A coroner has called for hospitals to consider seeking a court ruling in similar contexts – where a patient refuses blood on religious grounds.

Mrs Baxter, of Tudor Court, Coill Dubh, Naas, Co Kildare, died of acute cardiac failure caused by blood problems in Tallaght Hospital on September 15, 2009.

Mr Baxter told the inquest: “She said she did not want to die, but she was adamant she did not want a blood transfusion.”

Mrs Baxter, a Jehovah’s Witness, died five days after surgery to remove a tumour from her colon – after which she suffered significant bleeding.

Surgeon Diarmuid O’Riordan told the inquest there was a “98pc to 99pc chance she would have survived if she was given the appropriate blood transfusion”.

Dublin County Coroner’s Court heard yesterday that Mrs Baxter signed an informed consent form before surgery stating that she didn’t want blood or blood products – even as a lifesaving measure.

Detailed consent was given to doctors operating as part of three separate medical teams at the hospital – including to Mr O’Riordan, consultant haematologist Dr Helen Enright and anaesthetist Dr Fergal Day. Consent

“She was extensively counselled pre-operatively regarding the potential consequences of her refusal,” Dr Enright said. “She explicitly indicated she did not want transfusion of blood products – even if it cost her her life,” according to Mr O’Riordan.

Mrs Baxter’s blood pressure dropped after a successful fivehour keyhole procedure on September 10. She underwent open surgery, three hours after the operation, for a suspected bleed.

She was unconscious for five days before her death. Anaesthetist Dr Fergal Day explained to her family that, without a transfusion, “it was unlikely Mrs Baxter would survive”.

If she received the transfusion, “the overwhelming likelihood is that she would have survived”, he told the inquest.

Coroner Dr Kieran Geraghty called on management at the hospital to consider seeking a court ruling in future similar cases, where a person was unconscious and not in a position to affirm their decision – and there was time to make a court order – so the situation could be clarified.

“It’s putting doctors in an incredible position, where they can save a person, that they have to ... let them die,” he said.

Mrs Baxter “had five days to be saved and she was not in a position to change her mind.

I’m surprised an opinion was not sought from the court”.

Solicitor for the hospital, Kevin Power said that, under Irish law, a patient had the right to “choose their medical treatment” and could “give a directive.. . as long as they are informed of the relevant risks”.

He added that, if they were unconscious, that consent would carry through.

Mrs Baxter’s husband Philip told the inquest he asked a doctor if she would “put in writing” that the transfusion would save his wife’s life if he overturned her decision. “She said she couldn’t say that,” he said.

He added: “I would not change my wife’s decision. She had signed it and she was quite adamant she did not want a blood transfusion.”

Asked by the coroner whether his wife would have changed her mind if she was capable of considering the situation, and was told there was a 98pc to 99pc chance she would die without a transfusion, Mr Baxter said ‘No’.

Coroner Dr Kieran Geraghty recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.

How is that natural causes, death by religious misadventure :pac:

RobbieTheRobber

Foir the jeohavah, this didn't **** up their life. Gettign the blood would have, becuase they would have had to spend the rest of their days thinking they would not be going to gods kingdom in the sky. At least this way another religous nut is dead and the religous nuts family dont have to sue the doctors for only trying to save her.

Chocoholic84

It's a stupid religion, IMO :rolleyes:

hada

While you might not see eye to eye in regarding Jehovah’s Witness beliefs, who are you to say it was religious misadventure?

Each to their own I say.

K-Ren

Hey! Jeh-Jeh-Jeh-Jehovah it!

WindSock

Glad there wasn't valuable blood wasted on her, tbh.

wudangclan

Fair enough if adult Jehovahs decide these things for themselves,it's when they impose these beliefs on their children that gets my heckles up.

Schism

I agree OP that her choice was ridiculous but I also agree that it was her choice to make.

Demonique

Survival of the fittest?

jhegarty

WindSock wrote: »

Glad there wasn't valuable blood wasted on her, tbh.

I she somehow evil now ?

Just because her beliefs don't coincide with yours.

philologos

Absolutely tragic.

Kradock

Should have got some of that synthetic stuff they drink in Trueblood.:pac:



On a more serious note , you have to admire the depth of a Jehovah's belief. RIP.

WindSock

No, nothing to do with that. I don't care what her religious beliefs entail. I am glad she didn't get blood she didn't want then drag the doctors through the court like the Nigerian woman last year.

toiletduck

Since it was her own decision regarding her own body, then fair enough. No matter how deluded we may think her beliefs are she wasn't hurting anybody but herself.

But when they decide it on behalf of their kids... Then we've got a problem.

Xyo

At least she's with god now... snigger

Mossy Monk

Chocoholic84 wrote: »

It's a stupid religion, IMO :rolleyes:

All religions are stupid.

wes

Well, its certainly tragic, but at the end of the day her beliefs didn't hurt anyone but herself.

Kradock

WindSock wrote: »

Glad there wasn't valuable blood wasted on her, tbh.

TBH thats a poor poor statement

stringbox

I hope people are talking about stem cells in these terms in twenty years.

Sleepy

Evolution 1 : Religion 0

Wazdakka

Kradock wrote: »

you have to admire the depth of a Jehovah's belief.

Yup agreed,

I don't think I would have the courage to throw away my life like that.
Even if I did believe a space wizard told me I couldn't take other peoples blood.

Gordon

This isn't blood that I am topping you up with, it's 'red', a newly created synthesised life-fluid, created especially for Jehovas Witnesses, trust me, I'm a doctor.

wudangclan

Re: the Jehovah Witness religion the South Park episode sums it up very well.
Dum,da,dum,dum,dum.

Cookie_Monster

jhegarty wrote: »

I she somehow evil now ?

Just because her beliefs don't coincide with yours.

yes, no rational person would believe any of that rubbish

humanji

Would it not of been an idea for the doctors to withdraw some of JW's going into operations for a few weeks beforehand and so if something happens they can use their own blood? I don't think that's against their beliefs, is it?

Or just give her a transfusion while she's unconcious and don't tell her. If she doesn't know, she won't mind and if a god won't let her into heaven because of that, then you don't want to worship that kind of c*nt.

toiletduck

wudangclan wrote: »

Re: the Jehovah Witness religion the South Park episode sums it up very well.
Dum,da,dum,dum,dum.

That's Mormons.

humanji

[quote=wudangclan
]Re: the Jehovah Witness religion the South Park episode sums it up very well.
Dum,da,dum,dum,dum. [/quote]That was Mormons, a different, silly Christian spin-off.

edit: Dammit, ninja'd.

msg11

What a waste of life. It's a shame people get corrupted with that clut ****e.

Cookie_Monster

wudangclan wrote: »

Re: the Jehovah Witness religion the South Park episode sums it up very well.
Dum,da,dum,dum,dum.

That not jehovah witnesses that Mormons isn't it?

Sleepy

humanji wrote: »

Would it not of been an idea for the doctors to withdraw some of JW's going into operations for a few weeks beforehand and so if something happens they can use their own blood? I don't think that's against their beliefs, is it?

Or just give her a transfusion while she's unconcious and don't tell her. If she doesn't know, she won't mind and if a god won't let her into heaven because of that, then you don't want to worship that kind of c*nt.

I'm pretty sure they wouldn't allow their blood to be removed either...

wudangclan

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

That not jehovah witnesses that Mormons isn't it?

Is it? My bad.
No wonder I couldn't google it.

SV

msg11 wrote: »

What a waste of life. It's a shame people get corrupted with that clut ****e.

like 90% of ireland?

just a different kind of cult.

Cookie_Monster

can doctors just refuse to deal with people like that?

Or would that just end up as discrimination in court

General Zod

Mormonism allows blood transfusions.

Cookie_Monster

General Zod wrote: »

Mormonism allows blood transfusions.

good for them

PirateShampoo

WindSock wrote: »

Glad there wasn't valuable blood wasted on her, tbh.

Funny that, we dont hear many stories of them raping children in there care.

Dave!

Darwin award....

It's her decision, I have no sympathy for her really

My thoughts are with her family though

She was probably raised as a JW actually, so if her parents are still alive I wonder what they think about the consequences of their ridiculous beliefs

Cookie_Monster

I had to work with one of them a few years ago, seriously whacked out religion with all sorts of mad rules... maybe it was just him though...

stringbox

Dave! wrote: »

I wonder what they think about the consequences of their ridiculous beliefs

They probably think:
Fúck yes, my daughter's in heaven!

Tar.Aldarion

Meh, it is her choice to die, having a court order about that is silly.
If it is a minor, yes, then the parents should not be allowed make a decision that kills them.

Jumpy

PirateShampoo wrote: »

Funny that, we dont hear many stories of them raping children in there care.

Funnily enough, that is not the case. I had heard stories about the JW well before the Catholic abuses were brought to light.
They have a policy on it now though, but there were definitely accused coverups many years back.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehovah%27s_Witnesses_and_child_sex_abuse

KnifeWRENCH

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

I know this has probably come up a few times over the years but yet again religion ****s up someone life for no good reason...

Meh, religion didn't fcuk up her life. As far as I'm concerned, she fcuked up her own life. It was her decision to sign the order saying she didn't want a blood transfusion, even as a life saving measure. I very much doubt anyone forced her against her will to sign it. Feel sorry for her family obviously but no sympathy for her whatsoever.

I think JW's policy on blood transfusions is ridiculous but still it's up to each individual if they wish to abide by it or not.

c0rk3r

What to be a Jehovah's Witness? sign up today*

*No hemophiliac's allowed

derfderf

toiletduck wrote: »

No matter how deluded we may think her beliefs are she wasn't hurting anybody but herself.

Could say the same about heroin though.

Cookie_Monster

toiletduck wrote:

No matter how deluded we may think her beliefs are she wasn't hurting anybody but herself.

What about her family, relations and friends.

What about the doctors who performed the surgery, they could now blame themselves for causing the excessive bleeding through not being careful enough etc etc




I hate all forms of religion, especially when something like this happens. She died for no reason except a set of silly belief imposed by a crazy cult for its own benefit. Every religion is the same. Do nothing but create poverty and abuse their followers

RobbieTheRobber

Dave! wrote: »

Darwin award....

It's her decision, I have no sympathy for her really

My thoughts are with her family though

She was probably raised as a JW actually, so if her parents are still alive I wonder what they think about the consequences of their ridiculous beliefs

I'd say they firmly believe she is in heaven with god the baby jesus and the seven dwarves!

jhegarty

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

What about her family, relations and friends.

What about the doctors who performed the surgery, they could now blame themselves for causing the excessive bleeding through not being careful enough etc et

So people should have treatment forced on them to make the doctors feel better ?

Cookie_Monster

jhegarty wrote: »

So people should have treatment forced on them to make the doctors feel better ?

No, I'm just saying you can't just totally disregard their response/feelings/reaction as a result of this

They took an oath to safe lives if at all possible, to have a cooky religious rules stop them must mess with their heads somewhat

RobbieTheRobber

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

What about her family, relations and friends.

What about the doctors who performed the surgery, they could now blame themselves for causing the excessive bleeding through not being careful enough etc etc

I hate all forms of religion, especially when something like this happens. She died for no reason except a set of silly belief imposed by a crazy cult for its own benefit. Every religion is the same. Do nothing but create poverty and abuse their followers

You can add in governments to that mix and perhaps through in a dash of the way larger corporations have abused workers in thrid world countries to manufacter nice shiny consumer goods.

That reminds me I ordered some stuff from t'internet i wonder were my delivary is.

faceman

You cant blame religion for her decision, she made the choice. But it makes you think, imagine what it must have been like for her, in that position, to have to make that choice, knowing that if she opted for the transfusion she would have lived?

Sure some people think its barmy, but you have to admire her conviction and committment. Its not often nowadays that people believe strongly in anything. Not even football. (Where the hell did all the Chelsea supporters come from?)

I would also sympathise with the doctors who take an oath to preserve life and having to face such a moment with utter frustration.

Of course its easy for non JH like us to say she was a fool, but i think she displayed a level of courage rarely seen nowadays. Even if it was unnecessary, IMO

Cookie_Monster

faceman wrote: »

Sure some people think its barmy, but you have to admire her conviction and committment.

just like Adolf
:pac: