There's not too much to worry about here. Recent precedent in Irish law means that the babies will temporarily be made wards of the state until the necessary medical treatment is administered, at which point they will be returned to their parents. The Watchtower and the parents will make only the most cursory of objections to this.

Good news on this case:

The High Court has granted an order permitting the Health Service Executive to give blood transfusions to two severely aneamic babies after they are born.

See http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0424/breaking44.htm for full details

carla:

Ireland is not in the UK.

But it's likely the paper simply didn't know the details of the relationship, as their identities have not been disclosed. The man could not be referred to as the baby's father as he would have no such legal status until they are born and their births registered.

That's referring to the woman at the centre of the last blood transfusion case. She was an immigrant from (I believe) the Congo, and so may not have been up to date on the latest medical developments (to say the least). That was a rather different case as the woman, not the baby, was the one needing the transfusion, and because she lied and said the father was not in the country, the court ruled that she should not be allowed to commit suicide leaving her baby a ward of the state.

It's an annoying PC thing they do here.  Some consider it rude to refer to someone as a husband or wife or spouce even if this fact is known.  They feel it somehow is putting down all people who are living together but not married.  I hate PC crap, just say it's her freakin husband!

I forgive you for the UK think.  You must be American.  (not too bright over there).  OK - we're even now.

Ya----maybe the Governing Body members should do the same thing:  Respect the Right of a Witness to choose what treatments they accept without fear of excommunication.  Bit of a double standard they've got here I'd say.  Not that that comes as any surprise.

Yes it represents life----represents it!  It's not the same as LIFE ITSELF!!  How many more decades is it going to take before these idiots finally get it??? 

silly silly silly silly woman

I hate this policy on blood transfusions, really I wish their was new light on this matter. They should not equate blood transfusions as eating blood, because its not the same thing! Its when I read about this issue it really makes me hate this religion, its so stupid.

wanna know something else, i reckon alot of pregant JWs who need a transfusion secretly wish the court would make them and take it out of thier hands.

I really hate the GB, they are men mostly and their lives are not on the line where pregancy is on the line.

infact we need me to be on the GB and I'll kick ass and change this ridiculas law, also I'll make it complusory for JW husbands to make sure they give flowers and choclates to their wives on a sunday!

Very good point Sirona.  Kinda begs the question; Would you once have let your child die for want of a blood transfusion?