Hi Gill:
I've said the same thing before:
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/16/95472/1626937/post.ashx#1626937
One of the most dangerous complications of pregnancy is HELLP syndrome (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelet count), which can develop as a result of Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH). If the patient's condition isn't caught and treated in time, she can end up with an almost always fatal condition known as Disseminated Intravascular Coagulopathy (DIC). Patients with this condition require complete replacement of their blood volume. I've nursed patients after they have been in ICU with this condition who have needed over 20 units of blood transfused to get them stabilized and save their lives. In a case like this, bloodless therapy would be useless because the patient's own blood is being destroyed by the disease process very rapidly, it no longer has the ability to supply oxygen to the brain and vital organs, and the patient goes into shock and dies.
This is a perfect example (to me at least) of how poorly the WTS values the lives of women. Men don't get HELLP syndrome. Men don't die of HELLP syndrome. More men are affected by potentially life-threatening diseases like hemophilia - and guess what - clotting factors to treat hemophilia were the first blood fractions that were approved by the WTS for JWs to use as a Matter of Conscience™. You can bet your bottom dollar that if MEN, instead of women, were dying of HELLP syndrome, the WTS would repeal its oppressive ban on blood transfusions to save the lives of their Brothers™, Elders™, Ministerial Servants™, Circuit and District Overseers™, and Bethelites™. But since it only affects women, they don't really give a $h!t.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/103643/1796198/post.ashx#1796198
notice how the blood policy mostly kills women and children? How quickly do you think they would reverse the policy if the victims were usually self-important, heartless, old coots.
sphere, you are soooo right!
I don't think it's a coincidence that clotting factors that are used to treat hemophilia were the very first blood fractions that the WTS gave its blessing for JWs to use. The incidence for hemophilia is 1:7500 for males and 1:25,000,000 for females. That means for each female with hemophilia, there are over 3,000 males who are affected. About 17,000 people in the US have hemophilia.
Most of the 130,000 deaths annually due to postpartum hemorrhage occur in developing countries (where the WTS is experiencing most of its growth at this time). An otherwise healthy woman can be dead within 2 hours of the onset of a postpartum hemorrhage if aggressive treatment is not initiated at the outset.
Does anyone think that this insane blood policy would be in place if JW men were dying from postpartum hemorrhage, instead of women?
It just goes to show how poorly women are valued in this cult.
http://www.planetwire.org/files.fcgi/3439_BPpph-Jn01e.pdf
http://www.ikm.jmu.edu/Buttsjl/ISAT493/Hemophilia/hemophiliaincidence.html
and http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/16/135674/2421115/post.ashx#2421115
I've said this before, and I'll say it again: If JW men were the ones whose lives were on the line you'd see a huge change in WTS policy on blood transfusions.
Seriously.
The very first notable change to the rules on blood transfusions was the fact that clotting factors for haemophilia were permitted. I forget when this was first changed but if I remember correctly it was in the early to mid 80s. Haemophilia is a disease that affects males almost without exclusion.
from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/hemophilia/hemophilia_what.html
About 18,000 people in the United States have hemophilia. Each year, about 400 babies are born with the disorder. Hemophilia usually occurs only in males (with very rare exceptions).
If men were the ones in danger of dying in childbirth, instead of women, I guarantee that reform on blood transfusion doctrine would be a top priority.
I am convinced that the doctrine as it stands now demonstrates unequivocally the utter lack of regard that the WTS has for the lives of women and children.
