Would you let religion dictate whether your child lives or dies?

[labmouse]

Yesterday, DH came back from hospital with a sigh immediately after he close the door. He said 'I signed a discharge to kill a child today, what kind of doctor am I?'. I pressed for more details... apparently, there was a 14 yo child with some autoimmune anemia disease, so all he/she needs is regular blood transfusion. But, the child's parents are strong believers of Jehovah Witness (it is a branch of christianity), which bans them from any sort of blood transfusion. So, his/her parents decided that their child should die and force my husband to discharge them from the ward. According to DH, this child may have a couple days more to live, he/she will die due to lack of red blood cells to carry oxygen in his/her body. That is what i call internal asphyxiation.... how sad.... now.. the question is.. would you let religion control your child's life?

p/s: DH say this is the second time it happens, another case was also a Jehovah Witness believers in Canada where he did his clinical training....

[Michele]

If I believed my child would go to hell if I allowed the transfusion, how could I condemn them to that? Personally I don't believe in heaven or hell or god, so I wouldn't refuse treatment....but if I thought a treatment would condemn my child to a lifetime of torture, I'd absolutely have second thoughts.

[Vanquisher]

I am surprised that he couldn't circumvent the parents in this case. In the case of a minor child, I was under the impression that if a parent was withholding treatment that would save the child's life that a doctor could ask a judge for some kind of medical emergency power of attorney. It would be different if the child was suffering from a terminal condition, but one that could be treated? I would call that criminal neglect, religious or not. I am not an attorney, nor am I a physician, but I do think that if the child's life was saved by having the blood tranfusion against the wishes of the parents, then they are welcome to sue the hospital and/or doctor, but would have a hard time proving damages.

I could not let a child die under these circumstances. Maybe I am wrong, but I think there has to be a way to force this in the case of a minor child. If the patient was 18, then they can make that decision, but a parent shouldn't be able to choose death for their child like this. It is akin to murder to me.

I am surprised that he couldn't circumvent the parents in this case. In the case of a minor child, I was under the impression that if a parent was withholding treatment that would save the child's life that a doctor could ask a judge for some kind of medical emergency power of attorney. It would be different if the child was suffering from a terminal condition, but one that could be treated? .

DH sd the same thing

[labmouse]

Vanquisher... that's what i told my husband, because a child at 13 is allowed to make informed decisions. But, the problem is that he/she is unstable, having delusions and drifting in and out of consiousness due to lack of oxygen in the blood. So, in such cases, the parents will take full responsibilites of medical decisions. And doctors have to respect the wishes of the parents. Hospitals won't do much cause the administration will definately avoid lawsuits if possible. So, murder it is....it is sad..i know....

No freaking way. I'd call the police, CPS - anyone I had to. My dh just got home & laid down for a nap (after working non-stop 15 hour days since Saturday), but I'll ask him about it when he gets up. He's a transfusion medicine specialist.

Dh said ( I woke him ) that the parents do have the right to refuse care, but that the hospital can intervene - it just depends on the policy. I hope that someone at the hospital has the balls to step in (and it shouldn't be on the shoulders of a resident).

I think this is a tough question because I am not a member of this particular faith. However, I think there would be worse things then going to hell. Like living without my child. My oldest was born more than 3 months early. The first thing they asked us is what religion we were. We told them, then they asked if they could give him a blood transfusion if needed. We told him do what ever you need to save our son's life. It turned out he needed three. I am so thankful 8 years later he is a typical 8 year old boy. I think God has given us these children and we need to do what ever we can to save them. I know not everyone believes this. But, I would rather go to hell then be without one of my kids. It would be my hell.

. I know not everyone believes this. But, I would rather go to hell then be without one of my kids. It would be my hell.

this. I can't possibly buy the "it's God's will" kind of thing. God (if you believe in one) gave scientists the gifts, brains, talent and LUCK to discover and perfect these treatments. To deny your child's life based on religion ... it's is beyond my realm of understanding. My very open, very liberal, very "live and let live" realm of understanding.

, I would rather go to hell then be without one of my kids. It would be my hell.

Being without one of your children is hell. I could not imagine choosing that hell.

[poky]

I've never forgotten an episode of "Trauma, life in the ER" where there was a girl with compartment syndrome from trauma to her arm. The mom initially didn't want them cutting her arm open to relieve the pressure. She didn't state a religious reason for it on the show, but the docs told her it HAD to be done, or her daughter would lose the arm, and if she didn't consent, they'd get CPS involved, because time was of the essence, and it was a "life or limb" emergency. The mom eventually relented.

I guess it depends on the hospital? Maybe the state (I don't remember where that episode was filmed)? I have trouble imagining letting a kid die when it's easily preventable.

[labmouse]

I am truly shocked. I work in pediatric hem/onc and our docs will get a court order for a minor. They've done it before.

But DH's hospital decided not to intervene.... Like i said, the kid needs regular blood transfusion. If it is just once, you can try to force them. But, the child needs to come back regularly, so even if the hospital can do it for once, they cannot make sure that the parents will come back for follow ups. So, it is just a matter of time. I still think being too religious is not entirely a good thing. I read wikipedia... believers of Jehovah Witness detest any sort of blood transfusion, so if the child is a strong believer too, once he is consious, he/she would be persuaded by his parents to forego treatment.

[SoonerTexan]

If I believed my child would go to hell if I allowed the transfusion, how could I condemn them to that?

It's a heartbreaking and sticky issue, but I'd probably have similar thoughts to Michele's statement. I've never been there, though, so I don't really know. I'm just glad my beliefs wont force me into this particular situation.

Actually, JW are expected to sign a living will that states that they will not receive blood products or any treatment containing human or animal cells. It also says they cannot verbally revoke it w/out two witnessing members of the church. I used to work with a woman of the faith, and she sent it home with me to have dh explain the ramifications b/c she didn't understand it. It made me ill.

[medpedspouse]

We run a similar scenario with or residents...based on a real life situation that happened at our hospital. About 90% of the time, the residents give blood - the other 10% doesn't because they just say ALL JWs do not believe in any blood products....ever. We consulted with one of the local JW leaders as well as the risk management office and the ethics committee to create the debriefing module. The reality is that just like people of other belief systems/or lack thereof, they too are individuals and will make this decision on their own at times which may go against "their religion." So, we caution students and residents to make blanket statements about JW beliefs.

Having said that, going back to the original question, it seems like the parents are of the belief system that such may damn their child to hell. If they are like other JW parents I have worked with, these parents really struggle with this decision - and in the end, they do what they think it is right for their child.