Children below 15 to get blood infusion even if parents object Friday, February 29, 2008 at 06:49 EST TOKYO — A joint panel of Japan's five medical societies on Thursday said that children under 15 who require blood transfusions should be given them, even if this means going against the wishes of their parents, such as Jehovah's Witnesses, who object to such treatment on account of their religious beliefs. Releasing guidelines on the issue in a press conference, the panel headed by Fukushima Medical University professor Hitoshi Oto said children under 15 should be socially protected, drawing a line at the age from which a person's competency to make a will is recognized under the Commercial Code. "The guidelines will help facilitate the decision-making and choice of socially appropriate treatment by medical institutions," Oto said. Jehovah's Witnesses hope that medical institutions address each case individually in line with the patient's maturity and competency, and want institutions to offer a choice of alternative treatments as well as opportunities to consult with other doctors, said Tomonori Ariga, a Jehovah's Witness in charge of medical information. The panel was jointly set up by the Japan Society of Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy, the Japan Surgical Society, the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Japan Pediatric Society and the Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists. According to the guidelines, doctors will make efforts to treat patients below 15 without recourse to blood transfusions if their parents are opposed, but will resort to the procedure if it proves medically necessary. In the event that parents try to block the transfusion, medical institutions will report the matter as a case of child abuse. Children aged 15 to 17 will receive a blood transfusion after submitting written informed consent if they or their parents so wish. For patients aged 18 or older, doctors will respect their intent and receive an attestation of indemnity if the patients do not wish to have a blood transfusion. Under a 1998 guideline, the Japan Society of Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy says doctors should give blood transfusions to patients younger than 12 over their parents' objections and respect the will of those aged 18 or older, but has not specified its stance on those aged between 12 and 17. © 2008 Kyodo News. All rights reserved. No reproduction or republication without written permission.
Japan Court - All JW kids under 15 to get blood..(old law was 12 yo)
by skeeter1 9 Replies latest watchtower medical
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skeeter1
Can someone repost...my format sucks on the mac. http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/429593
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brinjen
NATIONAL Children below 15 to get blood infusion even if parents object
Friday, February 29, 2008 at 06:49 EST
TOKYO — A joint panel of Japan's five medical societies on Thursday said that children under 15 who require blood transfusions should be given them, even if this means going against the wishes of their parents, such as Jehovah's Witnesses, who object to such treatment on account of their religious beliefs.
Releasing guidelines on the issue in a press conference, the panel headed by Fukushima Medical University professor Hitoshi Oto said children under 15 should be socially protected, drawing a line at the age from which a person's competency to make a will is recognized under the Commercial Code.
"The guidelines will help facilitate the decision-making and choice of socially appropriate treatment by medical institutions," Oto said.
Jehovah's Witnesses hope that medical institutions address each case individually in line with the patient's maturity and competency, and want institutions to offer a choice of alternative treatments as well as opportunities to consult with other doctors, said Tomonori Ariga, a Jehovah's Witness in charge of medical information.
The panel was jointly set up by the Japan Society of Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy, the Japan Surgical Society, the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Japan Pediatric Society and the Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists.
According to the guidelines, doctors will make efforts to treat patients below 15 without recourse to blood transfusions if their parents are opposed, but will resort to the procedure if it proves medically necessary.
In the event that parents try to block the transfusion, medical institutions will report the matter as a case of child abuse.
Children aged 15 to 17 will receive a blood transfusion after submitting written informed consent if they or their parents so wish.
For patients aged 18 or older, doctors will respect their intent and receive an attestation of indemnity if the patients do not wish to have a blood transfusion.
Under a 1998 guideline, the Japan Society of Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy says doctors should give blood transfusions to patients younger than 12 over their parents' objections and respect the will of those aged 18 or older, but has not specified its stance on those aged between 12 and 17.
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alanv
This is really good news for young people in Japan. The 14 year old we heard about recently who died for not accepting a transfusion would still be alive if he lived in Japan.
Let's hope that many other countries follow Japan's lead and stop these neadless deaths among young people.
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moomanchu
Satan is really getting bold, he is forcing children not to die by using blood.
Pretty soon nobody will be allowed to die by not using blood.
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BluesBrother
According to the guidelines, doctors will make efforts to treat patients below 15 without recourse to blood transfusions if their parents are opposed, but will resort to the procedure if it proves medically necessary.
to me that is an important sentence. Nobody wants enforced medication except as a last resort . If power lies in the hands of anybody, it is as sure as hell that somebody will abuse it.
But overall , a good thing, obviously
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snowbird
bttt
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Rabbit
Skeeter, Thank You !
This is good news. I'm wondering, since this is a new law, perhaps there was a study done about just how many children & adults were dying over this issue ?
Rabbit
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Uzzah
Wouldn't it be great if this article found its way into the hands of the attorney's in Canada dealing with this issue at the Supreme Court ...
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mkr32208
I would like to see some intelligence applied to this issue with courts EVERYWHERE saying that if your under 18 you get blood or at LEAST that you get the allowable blood fractions regardless of what your conscience says you get them!
I think that any judge who was educated about the witness stand would force this issue. I mean if you hauled someone into the court and said "explain to me the difference between fraction A and fraction B and why you WILL take A but no B..." and they just gave you a stupid look would YOU say "Oh well then you are in a position to decide!" HELL NO! You'd say "shoot them up!"