Did anyone watch the medical reality show, "Critical Hour", about a week ago? For those that have never watched it before it follows the first few hours of emergency treatment of actual victims of car accidents, gun shot wounds, normal accidents, etc. One of the victims of the show of a week or so ago was a elderly woman (70+), and a Jehovah Witenss. She apparently had a serious fall and was bleeding pretty severely in and around the brain. To survive, she required immediate surgery to relieve the pressure within the head, which would have meant a necessary blood transfusion. Her husband, and another accompanying JW, was told that she would more than likely die without the surgery. To make a long story short the husband quoted JW beliefs, during a conversation with the doctor, stating that they were strong in their belief and that was that...The show ended with a report from the doctor that the wife had in fact died as a result of her injuries.
I'm not a JW and have a very hard time unerstanding how a husband, as in this case, can just sit back and watch his wife die...Why??? It seems suicidal and murderous all at the same time. Suicidal in that if she were conscious she may or may not have refused a transfusion and let herself die. Murderous in that her husband could have saved here life by simply saying yes, save my wifes life, to the doctors. I've read the various scripture passages the JW's quote justifying their refusal to transfuse blood and do not see how anyone, or organization, can interpret the quotes the way they do. It is obvious they are talking about animal blood, and, at least the way I read it, applicable to Jewish people only. How many JW's have died because of this insane belief? How many children?
Life is so precious. To let it simply pass away because of a rediculous belief is sad.