How quickly do young JW kids get blood?

by Open mind 8 Replies latest watchtower medical

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  Open mind

  The recent thread on Japanese JW kids under 15 automatically getting transfusions got me thinking about this.

  When a young (I'll say less than 10 yrs old) JW kid in your country (assuming it's not Japan) ends up in an Emergency Room bleeding out from an injury, I've always assumed that the ER docs are legally obligated to save the child's life in spite of the raving objections of the faithful JW parents.

  Is this assumption accurate? Or can raving JW parents successfully slow down the administration of a life-saving blood transfusion?

  OM
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  crazyblondeb

  In an ER that I worked in, one of the couple cases I was involved in was with a toddler. As soon as I saw in the chart that they were JW's I talked to the doc, who contacted the legal department immediately. Because of their actions, it slowed it down by about an hour. But, since we were one step ahead of them, the outcome was good.

  I was involved in a couple cases over the years. At one time I got to have the hostpital committee escorted out by the police and security. They have tried to have me fired. But, my supervisors stood behind me.

  shell
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  Open mind

  First off, big kudos to you shell.

  This is what I was afraid of.

  it slowed it down by about an hour.

  That could easily be the difference between life & death in other circumstances.

  What do you think most ERs in the "Virgin Islands" would do if a kid is bleeding out and WILL DIE if he doesn't get a transfusion immediately? I'm guessing the doc would be in worse legal trouble if he withholds the transfusion (not to mention moral trouble). But, like I said, I'm guessing. Anybody know?

  OM
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  loosie

  Well my experience goes back to 1975. My brother was in the hospital at 17 yrs old, he was in a motorcycle accident. They wanted to give him blood. the doctor's came out and asked my mom what did you say to that kid to make him want to die instead of take blood. My father which is his stepfather (dad wasn't a jw) signed the papers to allow blood to be given to him. From what I've heard related to me by family members it was within the 1st 24 hours. This is my fathers version of the story.

  I was 5 at the time. My mother's version of the story is that the judge issued a court order to force blood on him.

  I believe my father's version of the story to be true, because mom drinks a lot, which often makes her memory cloudy.
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  GoingGoingGone

  In cases involving minors, one parent or guardian's signature will allow the child to have life-saving blood. In cases where both parents refuse blood for their minor child, court orders are often obtained anyway, and sometimes without the parents' knowledge.

  Some hospitals have a judge on staff, and a court order for a necessary transfusion can be obtained in minutes. Doctors will often try to respect the JW parent's wishes, but they will not sit by and let a child die.

  GGG
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  crazyblondeb

  I knew of one doc that did give a teenage jw blood after a car wreck. I course he was given hell!! The hospital had to do their investigation, which was just to "do thru the motions". They backed him 100 %!!

  The parents said "no" to the blood, of course. It was a matter of live or death, and the doc didn't care. Kudos to him!!

  Of course, that's how they do it here in the "Virgin Islands"
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  skeeter1

  Most of the doctors I spoke to said that they just tell the parents, "If you don't consent, I will call a judge on the phone and have an emergency order immediately." The parents usually cave. When they don't, then the doctor has to track down the judge on call. Yes, this could be life/death, in these minutes. I like Japan's blanket rule, it speeds things up and insures the doctors focus on medicine, instead of the misguided parents. Skeeter
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  PattMan

  Many times the reaction time depends on the relationship that the local Congregations, “Hospital Liaison Committee” has with the Doctors at the Hospital. The job of these Elders is to educate inform, and maintain a relationship with hospital staff so that when an emergency develops, the staff will know what the whishes of JW’s are and respond accordingly.
  However, most of the Elders on this committee are too busy to do this job right! Others are too ignorant to communicate effectively with Physicians. Further, most Elders have little respect for any one with a higher education. All these factors tolled, most JW’s are on there own at the Hospital when it come to the battle of blood!
  Many cringe at this idea hear at Patterson, but if you are serious about refusing a blood transfusion, you should keep a current letter on file with your Doctor, and your local hospital. The utopia is that the Elders are all you need for a defense, but ask yourself, Would you trust these guys with your conscience?
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  AK - Jeff

  Welcome Pattman.

  I like the Japanese version of things. I had not thought of it before - but the fact that just one parent/guardian can sign the form allowing the transfusion is important to know. Is this the reason that so many Jw's divorce and fight for custody of the kids, after one leaves the religion? Fear that the non-jw will actually think clearly and perhaps allow a proven medical technique to save the child's life?

  What a crazy religion!

  Jeff