by Seeking Knowledge 18 Replies latest jw friends
My ex's wife just had their new baby (they are both JW's). Turns out that the baby has been born with blood poisoning, an underdeveloped liver and severe jaundice. It's the RH factor problem, she was warned, and refused the shot she could have taken to possibly prevent this. Anyone have any experience in this happening?? They currently have the baby under "light therapy" for the jaundice, but what about the rest? My heart dropped when I heard this news. Poor baby.
SK
That is criminal.
agreed. It's sad to know that maybe they could have prevented this....they did at least know it was a possiblity...their mindset will never cease to amaze me.
What is the reasoning for not accepting the shot?
My sister is a JW as well and didn't accept the shot so they won't be having any more children. I don't know for sure as I really didn't have the heart to get into it, but I believe the reason she gave was that the shot contained some blood parts and while they could have taken it they felt it best not to.
Don't quote me, but I do believe that's why.
Jackie
well, first you have to understand about Rh stuff. It's really ALL about the blood. In an Rh(-) (no Rh protein markers on the red blood cell (RBC)) mom with an Rh(+)--(Rh protein markers on RBC) fetus, during the first pregnancy there is usually little danger unless there are complications during preg. Usually though, when being born, the blood mixes a little and the Rh- mom begins to develop antibodies to the Rh+ blood. If mom gets pregnant again with an Rh+ baby, she already has antibodies to the protein markers on her baby's RBC. The antibodies pass through the blood barrier of the placenta, on search and destroy mode. When they find the RBC in the fetus, they cause the RBCs to either clump together (clot and die) or they destroy them. The result of this incompatibility ranges from fetal anemia, jaundice (caused by breakdown of RBC and the body's inability to deal with bilirubin as a by-product of RBC death,) and edema (inability of tissues to rid themselves of excess water,) to brain damage, liver failure and fetal death. It tends to get worse with each successive pregnancy, usually by the 3rd or 4th, fetal death is almost assured if the mother has refused treatment.
Rh antibody injections (antibodies are white blood cells) are usually given to the Rh(-) mother soon after delivery of an Rh(+) baby. The antibodies "trick" the mother's immune system into thinking they have won the war. Thus the mother's own immune system never learns to make the antibody to the Rh+ antigen. In addition, since the Rh antibodies are already there by injection, they recognize the baby's blood in the mother's system and destroy those cells before the mother's own system recognizes them and fires up her own immune system.
The Rh factor injection is made specifically from blood components (just like the clotting factor VIII, and XIII given to hemophiliacs) and is rejected by many as "transfusion."
Personally, I find it ironic that the Patriarchal WTS approved the use of VIII and others for hemophilacs--an affliction manifested by males, many years before "allowing" the use of Rh factor antibodies for pregnant women.
Odrade:
You nailed the explanation, bang on!
Personally, I find it ironic that the Patriarchal WTS approved the use of VIII and others for hemophiliacs--an affliction manifested by males, many years before "allowing" the use of Rh factor antibodies for pregnant women.
I wouldn't call it "ironic" - I think it's more a glaringly outrageous example of their overall negative view of women and children.
Quite frankly, in cases like this, I think a charge of child abuse is warranted - they knowingly put that child in harm's way when it could have easily been prevented with a simple treatment that has NOT been forbidden by their religion for over a decade. That is totally negligent and irresponsible.
Seeking Knowledge, I am sorry that this baby is suffering the consequences of the poor judgement and lack of foresight of her/his parents.
Love, Scully
Scully, what happens from here? Would the baby need a transplant or transfusions to survive? Is it possible, now that the baby is out of the womb, that the liver can recover function and develop normally?
I am friends with a grandmother whose second grandchild was born with a similar condition. That little baby boy had frequent trips to the specialist his first year of life. Though there was much anxiety all around, he did recover to a healthy little boy, slightly underweight. On the other hand, these parents took ALL advice from the specialist, including allowing transfusions and any other treatment that would give their child the most potential to improve.
This is really a case of criminal stupidity. Stupidity on the part of an organization that makes up unneccessary and life threatening policies. Stupidity on the part of adherents who follow blindly, and in this case, don't even bother to look up the actual current policy.
?Regardless of whether it is whole blood or a blood substance that is involved, God?s law remains the same.? (Blood, Medicine, and the Law of God, 1961, p14)
?When this happens, the serum might be administered.? - WT 06/01/74 p351 (footnote - a life saving change of doctrine changed with a hint in a footnote)
?This journal and it?s companion, The Watchtower, have commented consistently on the matter ... some Christians have concluded that to them it does not seem a violation of Bible law ... The decision whether to take RhIG remains finally, though, a matter for each Christian couple to decide conscientiously.? - AW 12/08/94 p27
Taking the shot is now a "conscience matter" and only the Over-Righteous don't these days as far as I know as in most cases once something is considered a "conscience matter" that is code to go ahead to consider it okay.
