Okay folks here is the rest of the story.
I contacted Elisabeth Gibbons at 514-934-1934, then press 2 for the Montreal Children's Hospital, and then ext. 2742.
I told Elisabeth who I was and why I phoned.
The teen actually never received a transfusion. But the doctors were worried the boy might so they got the court order. The family was not pushing it. It was actually the Watchtower (aka the HLC) that pushed this - those Bastards!!!!
It happened back in May, 2001 but the Watchtower took the case to court anyway. Elisabeth couldn't figure out why the Watchtower wanted to push this case even after it got resolved. I told her of the New Brunswick case where the teen actually got the right to choose and told her to be careful. Elisabeth indicated there was no information on a further apeal by the Watchtower at this time.
I gave my phone number to her if she or any of her hospital staff need help and the web site for AJWRB ( http://www.ajwrb.org . I also told her there was valuable information for both the doctors and lawyers on how to handle the Hospital Liason Committee people.
Just trying to help save children's lives and thanks for the link Kent.
Jehovah's Witnesses upset over losing Quebec judgment on blood transfusionsMONTREAL (CP) -- The Jehovah's Witnesses say they may appeal a Quebec Superior Court Court ruling that authorized a blood transfusion, a practice forbidden to church members.
August 2, 2001
In the end, the 16-year-old who signed a refusal form while in hospital last May didn't require a transfusion but the Jehovah's Witnesses feel an important principle is at stake.
Leonce Crepaud, a church spokesman, said the beliefs of Witnesses must be respected.
"This is a religious affair," he said Thursday. "If we refuse blood, it's for religious reasons."
The belief about transfusions stems from Bible passages in which Israelites are instructed not to eat the blood of animals. The Witnesses take that to mean they can't allow the blood of any animals -- including humans -- directly into their bodies.
Crepaud added "there are many substitutes" for blood that can be used during surgery.
However, the grounds for any appeal weren't immediately clear because the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled transfusions may be given to a minor without consent.
Montreal Children's Hospital, which obtained the authorization of Justice Maurice Laramee for any needed transfusions, said its main concern was the boy's health.
The youth, whose name hasn't been disclosed, was treated for leg injuries.
Hospital official Elizabeth Gibbon said the hospital tries to respect the wishes of family members and it's "very rare that we go to this recourse" of obtaining a court order.
"A surgeon who knows there's a risk of a patient bleeding is not going to undertake the surgery without being able to give the blood," Gibbon said.
"On the other hand, if the surgery isn't absolutely necessary, he'll give the family the choice."
In his ruling, Laramee cited a Supreme Court decision that held transfusions can be given to a minor, in spite of objections and even if the child's life isn't in danger.
"The fact that the child or the mother object doesn't change anything," said Laramee, noting there's nothing in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to justify a refusal.
He said it would be unreasonable to prohibit a blood transfusion if medical professionals believed the procedure was necessary.
The Supreme Court held in 1995 that a child's right to necessary medical care supercedes a parent's right to religious expression.
The Witnesses are upset because Laramee, who listened to testimony from the mother, didn't hear from the youngster himself, whom Crepaud called a highly articulate teen.
"He was ready to speak to the judge but he was never approached."
Crepaud said alternative methods to blood transfusions can be used in surgery "and often people recuperate faster."
But Gibbon said while there are new products available to replace blood used in transfusions "it's not clear yet if it replaces everything in the blood", including oxygen.
"You can replace the fluid but you've got to make sure that what you're putting in is really what the patient needs," she said.
