Jehovah's Witness who refused blood transfusion after giving birth died 'faithful to her God', inquest hears
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By ANDY DOLAN - More by this author ยป Last updated at 16:58pm on 7th April 2008
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The mother of a Jehovah's Witness who refused a blood transfusion after giving birth told a doctor she died 'faithful to her God', an inquest heard yesterday.
Emma Gough, 22, lost more than four pints of blood after developing a 'huge' clot shortly after delivering healthy twins.
An inquest heard yesterday how she was left sedated and on a ventilator before she died hours later of severe anaemia, after five attempts by doctors to persuade the family to allow a blood transfusion.
Mrs Gough had signed an 'advanced directive' during her pregnancy expressly banning a blood transfusion because of her faith.
Yesterday her widower, Anthony, 24, and her family looked on as a succession of medics involved in her care told how a transfusion would have saved her life.
Olufunso Oyesanya, the consultant gynaecologist on duty when Mrs Gough was admitted to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital last October said leaking blood vessels caused Mrs Gough to lose 'at least' two litres of blood - more than four pints. Such a collection of blood is known as a haematoma, or blood clot.
He said the patient knew about the risk of haemorrhaging after giving birth and had had a 'long discussion' with colleagues at the hospital earlier in her pregnancy in view of her religion, which dictates that certain bible passages explicitly prevent them from receiving transfusions.
Her position remained unchanged at the hospital, he said.
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Emma Gough, with husband Anthony, lost more than four pints of blood after developing a 'huge' clot shortly after delivering healthy twins
The Shrewsbury inquest heard that, after an operation to try and stem the blood flow, Mrs Gough was taken under sedation to the intensive care unit (ITU).
Mr Oyesanya spoke to her mother, Glenda Delaney, and the patient's husband, Anthony, 24, a central heating engineer, who 'fully understood' that her 'critical' situation could be rescued by a blood transfusion.
He and a 'team' of medics and midwives went back to the family to again plead for them to reconsider a transfusion, before a third approach later that night.
But the family, by now supported by a church leader, still would not consider a transfusion. After assessing Mrs Gough in ITU he then wrote on her notes: 'NEEDS BLOOD TRANSFUSION. FAMILY STILL REFUSING BLOOD.'
The family were approached a final time and their church leader told Mr Oyesanya they would not consider the matter.
"Somebody told me it was a conscience matter", the doctor told the hearing. The medic said he 'fully respected' the family's decision.
Mrs Gough died in the early hours of the following morning. Mr Oyesanya told the hearing how he had spoken to Mrs Delaney later that day, who told him: 'At least she remained faithful to her God'.
The inquest heard Mrs Gough, of Telford, Shropshire, had been admitted to hospital more than two weeks before her due date suffering from suspected ruptured membranes - usually a signpost that labour is imminent.
The twin boy and girl had a ventouse delivery - where a suction cup is placed on the baby's head and a pump is then used to help pull the baby out - but arrived healthy. Staff were forced to cut Mrs Gough to aid their birth, a routine procedure known as an episiotomy.
In Mrs Gough's case, the episiotomy caused internal bleeding requiring further surgery, and ultimately, a blood transfusion.
Professor Archibald Malcolm, who performed the autopsy on Mrs Gough, told the hearing her refusal to sanction a blood transfusion resulted in acute anaemia - where the body has insufficient red blood cells to carry oxygen, which is needed for organ function.
He said the cause of death was 'profound anaemia' as a result of haemorrhaging due to complications in giving birth.
The inquest heard the haematoma may have been the result of the episiotomy cut going deeper than anticipated. Nicholas Reed, a consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology at the hospital, who was not on duty at the time, said this could have meant that any internal bleeding was not initially noticed when the tear was first repaired.
Mr Reed said vaginal haematoma was a well-known complication in childbirth which affected one in 2000 women. All three experts told the hearing they believed a blood transfusion would have saved Mrs Gough.
Mr Reed told the coroner: "I think that if we had transfused at an early time, then a young, fit lady like Mrs Gough would have survived and I think all obstetrics staff would agree with that."
The inquest continues.
JW DIES 'FAITHFUL TO THE BORG' INQUEST/ NEW ARTICLE
by Latte 13 Replies latest watchtower medical
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Latte
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MidwichCuckoo
Thanks for the update Latte
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Latte
Apologies for the editing...just can't seem to get it to work for me! How sad is this incident? I wish so much that they had known the truth about how very confusing the 'Blood Issue' really is. The lovely lady would be still here ...with her no doubt gorgeous twins!
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Hope4Others
The inquest heard the haematoma may have been the result of the episiotomy cut going deeper than anticipated
This is really a sad case to hear about, and this is such a common procedure used. I never would of dreamed that it could contribute
to complications.
hope4others
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95stormfront
Yeah....they're circling the wagons around him right now, but will they as give any support as this kids grow up.
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momzcrazy
From an episiotomy! From a f*&^ing episiotomy this momma died. How horrible.
momz
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johnny cip
the wt kills another young woman. and lets hope the British gov't something to cut the wt's charity status in Britian. some young jw dies and here at JWD. next to no responce? I'm glad I got banned from starting topic. john
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yourmomma
that fact that this could have been anyone of us at some point in our life sends a chill down my spine every time. i consider myself a reasonably intelligent dude, but i dropped the ball on this big time. wow. we would have died. died! thats crazy.
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MissingLink
I was thinking about that yesterday yourmama. My wife was in a very similar situation a few years ago. She was prepared to die for the blood issue, and I was supporting her. Crazy and scary when you look back.
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BluesBrother
Poor Emma ! misled, misinformed, misguided and she paid the highest price. - from the highest motive. They told her that God would be displeased if she took it, but that he would be pleased with her if she refused...I think ,however that this headline is also misleading. The dubs that I know do not want to die, they do not have a martyr mentality, especially if she had just become a mother . Words fail me.....