A question for Jehovah's Witnesses

Does a Jehovah's Witness have a right to refuse a blood transfusion for his/her sick infant?

Trying to put a nasty spin on things are we? Well, Jehovah's Witnesses closely follow Bible principals. One of those principals is "abstain from blood". It's pretty straightforward. So, simply put, yes. We would refuse blood transfusians for an infant. Now, we JW's aren't against all medical treatment. If that was the case I would be dead. I have some pretty bad health problems myself.The only medical treatment we would avoid would be a blood transfusian.

Actually, because of Jehovah's Witnesses, doctors have developed better alternatives to blood transfusians. Blood transfusians aren't the best answer, and all doctors agree that it's a last resort because, really, they just aren't 100% fool-proof, and can end up causing more problems. If you have any more questions, feel free to PM me or go to watchtower.org, the official website for Jehovah's Witnesses.

Oh, now that I re-read your question I see that you asked do we have the right. Actually, we do. JW's have one a good number of supereme court cases on the matter. I should know. I did my National History Day project on Supreme Court Cases involving Jehovah's Witnesses ;)

Trying to put a nasty spin on things are we? Well, Jehovah's Witnesses closely follow Bible principals. One of those principals is "abstain from blood". It's pretty straightforward. So, simply put, yes. We would refuse blood transfusians for an infant. Now, we JW's aren't against all medical treatment. If that was the case I would be dead. I have some pretty bad health problems myself.The only medical treatment we would avoid would be a blood transfusian.

Actually, because of Jehovah's Witnesses, doctors have developed better alternatives to blood transfusians. Blood transfusians aren't the best answer, and all doctors agree that it's a last resort because, really, they just aren't 100% fool-proof, and can end up causing more problems. If you have any more questions, feel free to PM me or go to watchtower.org, the official website for Jehovah's Witnesses.

blankshore

Umm doesnt anyone have the right to refuse? I mean whats the big deal? Why is abstain from blood a principle that Jehovas hold? What is the point of that, I dont think god ever said that, but if he did, then ok.

[QUOTE="blankshore"]

Trying to put a nasty spin on things are we? Well, Jehovah's Witnesses closely follow Bible principals. One of those principals is "abstain from blood". It's pretty straightforward. So, simply put, yes. We would refuse blood transfusians for an infant. Now, we JW's aren't against all medical treatment. If that was the case I would be dead. I have some pretty bad health problems myself.The only medical treatment we would avoid would be a blood transfusian.

Actually, because of Jehovah's Witnesses, doctors have developed better alternatives to blood transfusians. Blood transfusians aren't the best answer, and all doctors agree that it's a last resort because, really, they just aren't 100% fool-proof, and can end up causing more problems. If you have any more questions, feel free to PM me or go to watchtower.org, the official website for Jehovah's Witnesses.

MotherSuperior

The parent has the right to decide medical treatment for their infants anyway. . .

[QUOTE="blankshore"]

Trying to put a nasty spin on things are we? Well, Jehovah's Witnesses closely follow Bible principals. One of those principals is "abstain from blood". It's pretty straightforward. So, simply put, yes. We would refuse blood transfusians for an infant. Now, we JW's aren't against all medical treatment. If that was the case I would be dead. I have some pretty bad health problems myself.The only medical treatment we would avoid would be a blood transfusian.

Actually, because of Jehovah's Witnesses, doctors have developed better alternatives to blood transfusians. Blood transfusians aren't the best answer, and all doctors agree that it's a last resort because, really, they just aren't 100% fool-proof, and can end up causing more problems. If you have any more questions, feel free to PM me or go to watchtower.org, the official website for Jehovah's Witnesses.

MotherSuperior

Okay. I think your sig freaked me out :P

But really, an infant can't choose any kind of medical treatment. It doesn't have the ability to refuse getting booster shots or anything like that. Every parent, regardless of their religion has to make medical desitions for their infant. There's a lot of hospitals now that specialize in bloodless surgery. Just last week a family friend of mine had their 8 month old baby girl go to a bloodless hospital to have heart surgery. And it worked out fine. It's really amazing what they can do with technology these days. Blood Transfusians actually aren't as big of a deal as they used to be.

Umm doesnt anyone have the right to refuse? I mean whats the big deal? Why is abstain from blood a principle that Jehovas hold? What is the point of that, I dont think god ever said that, but if he did, then ok.

SegaGenesisfan

[QUOTE="SegaGenesisfan"]

Umm doesnt anyone have the right to refuse? I mean whats the big deal? Why is abstain from blood a principle that Jehovas hold? What is the point of that, I dont think god ever said that, but if he did, then ok.

JustPlainLucas

Umm doesnt anyone have the right to refuse? I mean whats the big deal? Why is abstain from blood a principle that Jehovas hold? What is the point of that, I dont think god ever said that, but if he did, then ok.

SegaGenesisfan

Yeah, anyone can refuse. Not just Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood. We just refuse because in Acts chapter 9 verse 20 God said "abstain from blood".

Yes, legally they can refuse their children treatment. I've heard of cases where a mother tried to stop her 16 year old son from getting a blood transfusion even though he was begging for it. In that case I believe the doctor took the child's side though. Amnesiac23

Yeah, in that case it's the child's choice because he's old enough to make his decisions. That's kind of a vague story, so I'm not sure that's actually true but you're right. In that case it's the child's choice.

[QUOTE="Amnesiac23"]Yes, legally they can refuse their children treatment. I've heard of cases where a mother tried to stop her 16 year old son from getting a blood transfusion even though he was begging for it. In that case I believe the doctor took the child's side though. blankshore

Yeah, in that case it's the child's choice because he's old enough to make his decisions. That's kind of a vague story, so I'm not sure that's actually true but you're right. In that case it's the child's choice.

[QUOTE="blankshore"]

[QUOTE="Amnesiac23"]Yes, legally they can refuse their children treatment. I've heard of cases where a mother tried to stop her 16 year old son from getting a blood transfusion even though he was begging for it. In that case I believe the doctor took the child's side though. Amnesiac23

Yeah, in that case it's the child's choice because he's old enough to make his decisions. That's kind of a vague story, so I'm not sure that's actually true but you're right. In that case it's the child's choice.

I'll trust you on this one since you'rea radiohead fan ;)

It's a sign of intelligence.

[QUOTE="Amnesiac23"][QUOTE="blankshore"]

Yeah, in that case it's the child's choice because he's old enough to make his decisions. That's kind of a vague story, so I'm not sure that's actually true but you're right. In that case it's the child's choice.

I'll trust you on this one since you'rea radiohead fan ;)

It's a sign of intelligence.

[QUOTE="blankshore"]

[QUOTE="Amnesiac23"][QUOTE="blankshore"]

Amnesiac23

Yeah. Dude my screen name is a line from Reckoner! Thought you'd pick up on that...

[QUOTE="Amnesiac23"][QUOTE="blankshore"]

[QUOTE="Amnesiac23"][QUOTE="blankshore"]

Yeah. Dude my screen name is a line from Reckoner! Thought you'd pick up on that...

[QUOTE="blankshore"]

[QUOTE="Amnesiac23"] lol why thank you! :P Always nice to see fellow Radiohead fans around GS. Amnesiac23

Yeah. Dude my screen name is a line from Reckoner! Thought you'd pick up on that...

Yeah. I'm not here. This isn't really happening.8)

Whoa! This got off topic. Can we end this thread, please? Before it starts getting offensive? It went so well, let's end it on a good note.

Children in the congregation can get a "No Blood" card that explains their beliefs on blood transfusions. So, yes, the parent has the right to decide whether to give their child, no matter how young, a blood transfusion.

A Jehovah Witness came to my door when I was posting on Gamespot...... Damn Youuuuuuuuu!:o

A Jehovah Witness came to my door when I was posting on Gamespot...... Damn Youuuuuuuuu!:o

JJ_1

A Jehovah Witness came to my door when I was posting on Gamespot...... Damn Youuuuuuuuu!:o

JJ_1

[QUOTE="JJ_1"]

A Jehovah Witness came to my door when I was posting on Gamespot...... Damn Youuuuuuuuu!:o

MotherSuperior

I love the pic in your sig. He just needs a nose and glasses, and he could be a real life Peter Griffin.

So back on topic, and to wash away all the possible JW hating I'll rephrase OP's question from an objective standpoint.

Should parents have the right to endanger their child because of their beliefs?

My short answer is no.

Trying to put a nasty spin on things are we? Well, Jehovah's Witnesses closely follow Bible principals. One of those principals is "abstain from blood". It's pretty straightforward. So, simply put, yes. We would refuse blood transfusians for an infant. Now, we JW's aren't against all medical treatment. If that was the case I would be dead. I have some pretty bad health problems myself.The only medical treatment we would avoid would be a blood transfusian.

Actually, because of Jehovah's Witnesses, doctors have developed better alternatives to blood transfusians. Blood transfusians aren't the best answer, and all doctors agree that it's a last resort because, really, they just aren't 100% fool-proof, and can end up causing more problems. If you have any more questions, feel free to PM me or go to watchtower.org, the official website for Jehovah's Witnesses.

blankshore

EDIT:this is referring to not sacrificing animals becusae Jesus came back and sacrificed himself and was the "blood of life" so you need no sacrifices. NOT BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS just so you know.

[QUOTE="blankshore"]

Trying to put a nasty spin on things are we? Well, Jehovah's Witnesses closely follow Bible principals. One of those principals is "abstain from blood". It's pretty straightforward. So, simply put, yes. We would refuse blood transfusians for an infant. Now, we JW's aren't against all medical treatment. If that was the case I would be dead. I have some pretty bad health problems myself.The only medical treatment we would avoid would be a blood transfusian.

Actually, because of Jehovah's Witnesses, doctors have developed better alternatives to blood transfusians. Blood transfusians aren't the best answer, and all doctors agree that it's a last resort because, really, they just aren't 100% fool-proof, and can end up causing more problems. If you have any more questions, feel free to PM me or go to watchtower.org, the official website for Jehovah's Witnesses.

Jacobistheman

EDIT:this is referring to not sacrificing animals becusae Jesus came back and sacrificed himself and was the "blood of life" so you need no sacrifices. NOT BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS just so you know.

Well in the christian greek scriptures the command to abstain from blood appears in Acts 14:20: "but to write them to abstain from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood." and in then again in Acts 14:29 "to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication."

[QUOTE="JJ_1"]

A Jehovah Witness came to my door when I was posting on Gamespot...... Damn Youuuuuuuuu!:o

JustPlainLucas

[QUOTE="JJ_1"]

A Jehovah Witness came to my door when I was posting on Gamespot...... Damn Youuuuuuuuu!:o

JustPlainLucas

If anyone is interested, I have access to Lexisnexis (a restricted legal database), so I might be able to dig up the records for the cases if they've been electronically archived. JSTOR might have them as well, or a case study on medical care and a(n) Jehova's Witness. :)

Edit: when I say restricted I do not mean illegal to share. They're public records and widely published studies, but the online archive is a paid subscription through universities or organizations. The hard copies are available to the public. The original sentence sounded kind of like piracy or theft, haha.

[QUOTE="JJ_1"]

A Jehovah Witness came to my door when I was posting on Gamespot...... Damn Youuuuuuuuu!:o

JustPlainLucas

I disagree with you completely. If i don't want candy I tell the kid politely no and they go away and DON'T come back... For example I was at the Basket Ball courts playing a game and they came right onto the Court and interrupted the game and everyone felt bad to kicked them out so they started listening to their "message" and then they had the never to ask us to pray with them... I finally answered in a angry tone, " No! God doesn't exist now can you please get off the court I'm tryna play a game", they refused because 2 people were drawn in because they were Catholic and didn't want to turn God down(they still couldn't stop laughing). But honestly how would religious people feel if I went to their Church and tried my best to convince them at Jesus/God/ or Mohamed either didn't exist or weren't the son of god? These people are pathetic int he way they spread the word. All they have to do is hold community events and leave flyer's everywhere and the people who give a **** will go. don't go and interrupt my basket ball game because you love god and then go and do it the following week again. Plus the people they send around here are like 8-12... Why are they sending such little kids that can be hurt or raped to big groups of people they don't know? Whoever leads them is ****ing silly I say.

I'm not understanding this "abstain from blood" deal. What does that mean, in plain english? Don't have anyone else's blood in, near or on you? I'm way lost.XilePrincess

Why they don't believe in the holy spirit?

this reminds me of how the world was robbed of jim henson because of his kooky christian scientist religion that would not allow him to go to a doctor over the ******* flu.

thanks religion.

way to continue the tradition of making the world a shyttyer place to be.

I have a friend who is a Jehovah' s Witness and really the only difference I see is that he never curses. I' m going to ask him about the blood transfusion thing next time I see him.

[QUOTE="JJ_1"]

A Jehovah Witness came to my door when I was posting on Gamespot...... Damn Youuuuuuuuu!:o

JustPlainLucas

Yeah I don't know why people are that bothered. JWs are probably the single best group in not bothering you once you tell them you are not interested. Their belief is that they actually have to go away and not bother you again.

Outside of a few scuff marks on your steps or your porch, you can generally expect them to leave you alone after that.

Yeah I don't know why people are that bothered. JWs are probably the single best group in not bothering you once you tell them you are not interested. Their belief is that they actually have to go away and not bother you again.

Outside of a few scuff marks on your steps or your porch, you can generally expect them to leave you alone after that.

m0zart

[QUOTE="m0zart"]

Yeah I don't know why people are that bothered. JWs are probably the single best group in not bothering you once you tell them you are not interested. Their belief is that they actually have to go away and not bother you again.

Outside of a few scuff marks on your steps or your porch, you can generally expect them to leave you alone after that.

JustPlainLucas

LOL!

Looks like somebody bumped the thread! I gotta start checking these things... being a mod, and such. :P