AJWRB member Sam Believer has brought the recent death of a Jehovah's Witness infant to my

attention. This story has been carried by the CBS Dallas affiliate and you should view the story here:

Head to http://ktvt.dayport.com/launcher/1883/?tf=video_player.tpl to check it out.

This is the kind of development that deserves our serious attention. Please pass the word to everyone

you know in the JW and ex-JW community as well as related medical, ethics, legal, children's rights

groups.

There is no need to sensationalize this story. The facts should speak for themselves. If anything, we want to

focus attention on the absurdity of the WTS policy which permits the use of hemoglobin but forbids the

use of the red cells which this infant needed. The red cell is nothing more than a doughnut shaped bag

of hemoglobin. 97% of the dry weight of the red cell is hemoglobin. So technically the WTS is banning

the 3% which constitutes the red cell membrane. This is an absurd policy that forces individuals like

these parents to abandon reason and human nature, effectively sacrificing their children to support

a man made prohibition that is entirely lacking in Biblical support since the medical use of blood and

blood products in no way involves eating or digestion to sustain or nourish life.

Your assistance in getting the word out about this development is both needed and appreciated.

Lee Elder

AJWRB

Moderators - please post to all appropriate directories if possible - thank you.

That is horrendous!  I am glad about the judges decision, hopefully the other baby will survive.

dang, got all caught up and watched the whole darn ch 11 newscast.....silly me

Its so sad that this happened....All because these dumba** old geezers up there won't just admit they are wrong and let people be saved. I think something similiar to this was the turning point for my dad too. A close family friend got sick and needed an organ transplant but was too weak to transport to another hospital to get the transplant because she needed blood.....she didnt make it...i think that really took a toll on my dad....

I have posted this in other places but a example that my brother used one time really made me say hmmm and you're right....

no matter how many times you divide it, seperate it, shake it up, what have  you...you're still dealing with BLOOD....just like water you can freeze it, boil it to make steam and other stuff but you're still dealing with water.....

I'm praying the other baby survives....

A 2lb baby has a hard time surviving no matter what. This is very sad. I can't imagine, also this other twin has lost their sibling.

The JWs will use it all to their benefit saying that the blood killed their child, trust me, they make it a whole big thing.

Imagine what these parents will feel when they realize that they have been duped! What an awful price to pay for obeying the dictates of a publishing company.   An innocent life stolen.

How is it that the "symbol of life" is more important than the life?

Coffee

 

I can't get the link to work??

Is there an article we can read ?

For those who can't open the link, I've transcribed it:

Karen Borta (anchor): Tonight, a local hospital is forced to go to court to provide urgent medical care for a baby.

Tracy Rowlett (anchor): This case pits religious beliefs against the law, and it all started when twins were born prematurely at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas. When their parents would not consent to life-saving medical treatment, the hospital then went to court. CBS 11's Jack Fink joins us live tonight with the exclusive details. Jack?

Jack Fink (reporter): Tracy, court documents show the couple would not consent to the treatment because it would violate their religious beliefs. A judge has sided with the hospital and ordered the treatments, but we've learned that one of the twins has since died. Court records show Tara (?) and Embre (?) Speciale were born on Valentine's Day. Each weighed less than two pounds. But the next day, the Baylor Medical Center in Dallas filed a petition in court, asking a judge to intervene. Doctors said the children would likely need a transfusion of red blood cells, which would enable the children's blood to carry sufficient oxygen to sustain life.

But the baby's parents are Jehovah's Witnesses, and it is against the Jehovah's Witness religion to accept such treatment. Doctors told the judge: "If the blood product treatment is delayed, there is a significant risk of death or serious complications." Thomas Mayo, a professor at SMU and a medical ethicist, couldn't comment on this specific case, but says in general the law supports the hospital's position.

Thomas Mayo: What they're not entitled to do under the law is to withhold blood transfusions from their minor children.

Jack Fink: In his order, Judge Robert Frost prevented the babies' parents from disrupting or interfering with the treatment. The Judge also ordered that Baylor Medical Center provide all treatment that is reasonably necessary to stabilize the condition or prevent death.

The babies' parents didn't return our calls seeking comment, and the hospital declined commenting on the case. Professor Mayo says there is a simple rationale for the law.

Thomas Mayo: An adult is entitled to make that decision for himself or herself, and that minor children have a legal right to grow into adulthood and make that decision for themselves when they are old enough.

Jack Fink: Now Jehovah [sic] Witnesses we spoke with say they have a very high regard for life and that they are not anti-medicine. They say they try to find doctors who use treatments other than blood transfusions.

We're live in Dallas tonight, Jack Fink, CBS 11 News.

the parents should be burried alive.