Jehovas witnesses do not want their unborn twins to have a life saving blood transfusion when they are born?

this disgusts me ,what do you think ? they used to allow blood tranfusions from 1916 to the 50s ,if the parents do allow this they will be excommunicated and ignored by fellow jehovahs even family and friends,the irish health service has to go to court to insure the twins get this life saving transfusion.

The following response applies only to Americans as laws vary from place to place:

While I believe religious freedoms should be supported, I feel that every person, regardless of age, has the RIGHT to LIFE. WHEN "life" begins is a question that is often debated, but once life begins, that person has rights as a citizen. As such, the baby should be provided with equal protection under the Constitution. The right to life is the most basic protected right that we all have.
A person's rights (in this case religious freedoms) END where the rights of someone else is infringed. Just as your right of Freedom of Speech ends when you shout, "fire" in a crowded theater with the intention of causing a panic, your right to practice your religion ends when it directly causes the rights of someone else to be infringed upon.

The right to life has higher precedence than the right to practice religion, therefore the doctors who save the life of the baby by giving a NEEDED blood transfusion are NOT (in my humble personal opinion) breaking the law because they are fighting for the rights of someone who is unable to do so for themselves.

We need to make laws that CLEARLY protect our doctors who are willing to do the right thing.

It disgusts me also, I think enforcing your beliefs on your children is a bad thing anyway but when it threatens their life it is infinitely worse.

There was already a case of this in Ireland in December of last year, it is known as the 'Baby B' case. The parents were non english speaking devout Jehovahs Witnesses. Thankfully the court ruled in favour of the hospital and granted them permission to do the transfusion.

It is one thing holding your own beliefs, that I have no problem with whatsoever, but when it impinges upon the life of a child a line must be drawn. I can only hope that the court takes the same attitude as they took to the Baby B case and grants these children their right to life.

I should mention that I am not a religious person, just in case anyone thinks I'm a christian 'picking' on another religion. I am simply writing this as a rational, sensible human being and parent of two children, looking past all the religious barriers involved.

EDIT:

To people who say that it is the parents beliefs and therefore should be respected, let me ask:

What about the rights of the child to life? They do not have a choice, we do not own our children, we are simply here to nurture and care for them as best we can. No matter what your beliefs, letting your child die when there is treatment available cannot be condolned and should not be, and I'm glad to see most people answering this are intelligent enough to see that.

It's tragic that people choose to follow what their cult teaches them. I don't have any respect at all for those people. Keep in mind, people, that this has nothing to do with religion. These are cult practices, not religious practices. JW, Scientologists... etc... are not religions, they are cults. There is a huge difference.
A note to Bob... it's not Christianity. Christians would actually do the right thing and get medical attention when it's needed.
When parents purposely choose not to get their children medical treatment when the treatments would be beneficial, then those parents aren't parenting anymore.

there has just been a case where a young mother of twins died after giving birth, she was a jw and her husband and mother refused a blood transfusion for her. at the inquest doctors said her life would have been saved if they had allowed the transfusion to go ahead, surely they are responsible for her death- their actions led to her being left to die, now two small children will have to grow up without their mother, will they forgive their father when they grow up?

It happened to my mum in the 70s,,, her dad wouldn't let her have blood as he was a Jehovah witness.. But my dad didn't care he said my son isn't dieing because of your believes, so my dad went and signed the papers and my brother is now 34,, so not all Jehovah witnesses are right,, i think its sick letting your baby or mother die when there is ways of help. im also irish so?????????????

Well, I would'nt say it sickens me. I think a better word is unhuman like. I don't care what I had to do to save either of child lives. I would it!!!

I would walk backwards in the snow, up hill, with no shoes, both ways if I had to. My children are a blessing from God. We can not control some of things man made that does affect some of our children. We are only to protect them.

I think thier religion is crazy. But that is only my opion.

I was raised in church, and often remember reading that God washes away all sin! Maybe they never read that part.
So if that child does receive a blood transfusion. That child can be washed in the blood of Jesus. To be as pure as he was before, only better!!!

Phew...I started getting all that old time Relgion!

I also find this disgusting but it reinforces my view that religion isn't such a good thing, this is all about controlling and brainwashing people. My great aunt was a jehovas witness and died because she refused a blood transfusion that she urgently needed. The stupid cow.

its stupid! They wont allow it because of their religion! So many women have died during childbirth because they wont have a transfusion. Those babies should be given a chance at life! If i was a jehovas witness, i would make sure my baby got a transfusion if it needed one! I wouldnt care what the rest of them thought, id want my baby to live!

How can any religious belief not allow life saving procedures such as this? It's horrible....I'd rather face excommunication than the loss of my children. Any group that would shun other's for making the choice to save their child's life is stupid. It's unreasonable.

Bob...jehovah's aren't Christian....these jw's are members of a satanic cult.... Jesus would never allow this. The Bible says 'thou shall not kill'
Their no blood transfusion thing is not even biblical! This method of saving lives was not even available 2000 years ago.
It's upsetting that these ppl are murderers & they are getting away with it...or maybe so they think. God WILL judge them!
It's just another means of control the cult has on these poor blind ppl.

Its disgusting! How can anything, even your religion come above the health of your own children! People like that dont deseve children! There millions of women out there that cant have kids, and that couple are happily gonna let those babies die, just because of stupid religion! It makes me sick even thinking about it!

this makes me feel sick!! i dont understand how that could NOT want to save the twins... i would give my baby a kidney if he or she needed it!!! and do anything in my power to make them well if they were sick!!
i dont know what to say... i cannot believe this... my brain cant think that way...

i heard a story of a doctor treating a jehovah witness child and she needed a transfusion .of course the parents said no so he told them he was going to go ahead and to sue him if they didnt like it. he went ahead and they actually thanked him. i think they should do that here

l know how you feel. My husband have relatives of that religion and they won't hear any kind of reason.
There's really nothing we can do. The change should come from someone influential in their group. lf ever there's someone who feels it is not right.

It is disgusting if you ask me.
I just don't understand what makes there brain tick over issues like this.
I have never liked religion because of the impact it has made on this world.
I will never understand what makes them make this decision.

the government should bring in a law and prosecute these type of people for manslaughter. no religion should endanger the lives of it's followers in this way.

i agree, it is discusting! this sort of thing is coming up a lot in the news lately. What is the reason for this caveman belief?
I don't mean to offend any Johovas witnesses

I know as a mother, i would do absolutley anything in my power to save my child.
I find it disgusting that any so called parent wouldnt.

More proof that JW's and f**king nutters and deserve to have my front door slammed in their faces. I'll use the twins as an example of the c**p they talk next time they call.

Its absolutely retarded, my uncle died because my grandmother would not allow him to have a life saving blood transfusion after a car accident.

I think Social Services need to intervene and remove these children from their EVIL parents.

Nobody is above the law.

I hope someone is gonna tell us what religious grounds they base their decision, if God gave us the intelligence to be doctors etc, then why is the treatment so against their beliefs.

i think that peple should listen to their own mind and heart instead of giving their power over to others, god gave us free will..will they really have peace of mind or secretly wish they had made their own choice?

I always thought if a life could be saved doctors HAD to do it?

I don't think religious views should play a part with regard to Health Care or the Legal System

it's disgusting that there prepared to let there baby's die rather then giving them life saving blood.

i think social services should step in. Its a form of neglect not treating the child with all means possible to save its life

Religious nuts they are....don't you just hate Christianity?

I know it's un bareable to think that.
But that is their religious followings/choice and should respect that.