A High Court judge in the UK has ruled that a sick baby who needs a blood transfusion must receive it, even if it goes against the parents’ Jehovah’s Witness beliefs. The ruling will spark many controversies, as it raises questions of consent, protection of religious beliefs, and government protection of their citizen’s safety. In this particular case, a baby’s health was given priority over faith.

Adherents to the Jehovah’s Witness faith believe that their sacred texts command them to abstain from blood. Citing specific verses from both the Old and New Testament, believers of the faith refuse to disobey this interpretation of the text. They believe that God views blood as representing life, so they wish to avoid taking it out of respect for whom they deem to have given the world life. However, contrary to popular belief, Jehovah’s Witnesses do believe in modern medicine; they are simply advocates for bloodless treatments.

In this case, Justice MacDonald ruled in favour of the doctors who wanted to perform an urgent blood transfusion on a sick three-week-old baby despite the beliefs of his mother. Authorities at the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board brought the issue to the Family Division of the High Court in London last week. The judge concluded that there was sufficient evidence to show that the baby was gravely ill, so the blood transfusion was essential to his survival.

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While the baby’s life was saved, there could be negative social implications for him down the road. In some cases, those who receive a blood transfusion are expelled from the faith or ostracized by the community. Depending on the laws of each country, a medical practitioner can administer a blood transfusion on children who need it. Unless a parent can provide evidence that there is another medically accepted treatment that can be used, the child is to receive blood treatment.

The consequences of this specific court ruling are yet to be determined, but the fact remains that the doctors saved a three-week-old boy’s life. With the help of the court, they were able to keep him from physical harm. Challenges of social acceptance and religious beliefs are to come later in his life, and the courts will also be there to help him if needed.

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