Australian court overrules parents in cancer case
An Australian court ordered the parents of a cancer-stricken child to put aside their religious beliefs and allow her life-saving treatment including a blood transfusion, reports said Saturday.
The four-year-old's parents had refused the transfusion because it was against the teachings of their Jehovah's Witness faith, but South Australia's Supreme Court upheld an application by the hospital forcing them to relent.
Justice Richard White ruled that it was "appropriate and indeed necessary" for the girl, who was diagnosed with leukaemia on Monday, to receive a blood transfusion.
"I'm satisfied that there are no alternatives to the provision of a blood transfusion," White said, according to a report of the case in the Adelaide Advertiser newspaper.
"Without a blood transfusion there's a very high prospect (the girl) will die," he added.
"I'm satisfied that it's in (the girl's) best interest to receive the blood transfusion despite her parents' objections."
The Jehovah's Witnesses movement, which claims to have more than 17 million followers worldwide, identifies itself as a Christian religion with its beliefs based solely on the Bible, including a prohibition on accepting blood.
Doctors had told the court that the girl had just weeks to live if she were not treated and could suffer heart, brain and kidney damage even if she survived without a transfusion.
Her father wept as he spoke of the family's adherence to "strict Bible principles".
"We want the best possible treatment for (her) and the hospital are doing a great job. The only thing we don't consent to is the issue of blood," he said.
(c) 2012 AFP
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Jun 02, 2012
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*tell the truth don't be afraid*
--
Danny Haszard http://www.ajwrb.org
JW blood reform site
Jun 02, 2012
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
Jun 02, 2012
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
But the blood supplies are pretty safe nowadays. Religious observance is a whole other matter. The courts would be remiss if they didn't force the parents to relent in spite of their beliefs. There are ways to cleanse donated blood.
http://www.econom.../1841992
Jun 02, 2012
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Answer: They've shown too much iron causes anemia. They have shown reducing iron reduces leukemia. One might think giving high iron blood to someone with leukemia would be bad.
"Deferasirox may have an antileukemic effect"
Jun 03, 2012
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
I am just appalled at the idiocy and ignorance displayed by her parents all because of organized religion.
Jun 03, 2012
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Answer: There IS enough information. The word leukemia. I included the use of an iron chelator which induced complete remission FOR leukemia , AND gave the reason why blood transfusions may be a bad idea IN a situation in which there IS too much iron.
The Witnesses believe , "transfusions are a bad idea" . Transfusions are very high in iron and are touted as the very thing which causes iron overload in many people.
Transfusions have been linked to increased death in hospital.
The Witnesses seem to be as well versed in what is right for leukemia as well as hospitals.
Jun 04, 2012
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Answer: I would bet the 'dying young' part of the equation is being skewed by the fact the MEN are dying much younger than the women thereby showing a high death rate in Scotland. Women lose iron in their menses which keeps their iron levels lower than men. It has recently been shown women who lose their menses due to hysterectomy begin to load iron at the same rate as men.
"One possible explanation for the gender difference is that during menstruation, iron is eliminated through the loss of blood."
http://www.semel....on-brain
Jun 05, 2012
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Jun 05, 2012
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Answer: Leukemia is not 'just' an increase in WHITE 'cells' , but , all cells. So , if one can imagine , too much iron BEFORE the increase of cells ? Since increased iron increases red blood cells , that's why they GIVE you iron ? The complete remission by reduction of iron allows one the argument of , evidence based medicine. Sickle Cell , an incurable disease , is successfully treated by simple iron reduction , by taking the people into a state of 'iron deficiency' leads to 10 to 1 decrease in hospital presentation ?
So , since leukemia TOO is treated by simple iron reduction , based on evidence , iron reduction would be the place to START as opposed to later when the person is prettyneardead ? Imho.
Jun 05, 2012
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
If, as you seem to suspect, the child has a preponderance of red cells and iron, then it may be possible to do some blood-letting as in venipuncture. I don't know if they would do that because of her age and lesser volume of blood compared to an adult.
I doubt that her physician would prescribe a whole blood transfusion without first checking the donated blood to see the ratios between white and red cells, platelets and plasma. They can separate the blood components and then reconstitute them.
Jun 06, 2012
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Jun 08, 2012
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