but he promises to appeal.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080620.wtransfusion21/BNStory/National/home
Damn, Lawrence Hughes' Case Was Thrown Out of Court...
by jamiebowers 25 Replies latest watchtower medical
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crazyblondeb
Wrongful-death suit dismissed
DAWN WALTON
From Saturday's Globe and Mail
June 20, 2008 at 8:25 PM EDT
CALGARY — An Alberta judge threw out Friday most of a $975,000 wrongful-death lawsuit filed by a Calgary man who accused Jehovah's Witnesses members of influencing his teenaged daughter's decision to refuse blood transfusions when she fell ill with leukemia.
Lawrence Hughes has been back and forth to court – without a lawyer – in an attempt to hold the Tower Bible and Tract Society of Canada, its lawyers, its members and several health-care workers responsible for contributing to the death of 17-year-old Bethany Hughes in 2002.
Prescribed treatment included chemotherapy and transfusions, but in keeping with her faith, Bethany refused to accept blood products, a decision supported by her mother, Arliss Hughes, and her sisters.
However, Mr. Hughes, a former member of the religious sect, and the Alberta government argued successfully in several courts that the teen was not mature enough to make her own health-care decisions. She received 38 court-ordered blood transfusions, but when doctors dramatically reduced her prospect for recovery, a Provincial Court judge refused to extend provincial guardianship to force further treatment.
On Friday, Court of Queen's Bench Justice Alan Macleod dismissed Mr. Hughes's allegations – except those against doctors with the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, who failed to file relevant documents to ask for a dismissal.
“There's no evidence to support any claims against us,” the teen's lawyer, David Gnam, told reporters outside the court.
Ms. Hughes issued a statement thanking the judge for dismissing her former husband's “hurtful allegations.”
“[Judge Macleod] held that Bethany's death was the sad result of her cancer,” she said.
Judge Macleod ruled the teen was capable of making her own decisions based on her “strong belief system” and also offered Mr. Hughes a piece of advice.
“If he wants to go ahead, I hope he gets a lawyer,” he said.
Mr. Hughes told reporters outside court he will appeal the ruling even if it will cost him “a suitcase full of money.”
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kwr
He needs a lawyer, but I don't think he has a case and that is why he doesn't have one.
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OtisBarker
"...in an attempt to hold the Tower Bible and Tract Society of Canada"
The what?
Otis
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cognizant dissident
I agree kwr. If there was a a greater than 50% chance of winning, a lawyer would have picked it up on contingency already.
I empathize with Mr Hughes, and despise the WTBTS blood policy. However, Bethany received the court ordered transfusions and died anyway. Treatment was stopped because it wasn't working, not because of the WTBTS. How can anybody or anything be responsible for her death other than cancer? It's tragic, but nobody's fault.
Cog
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Outaservice
In one sense 'He's Won', because it did get a lot of 'Press'! But it's hard to fight a billion dollar corporation when your personal funds are so limited compared to them.
But, what does the scripture say........Vengeance is mine, I will repay! God will get um!
Outaservice (always rooting for the little guy)
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Balsam
I feel for him with his case being thrown out. I felt I had no case worth fighting. Since my ex-husband and I raised our children in the JW's and refusal even revulsion of blood transfusions was encouraged for us all. We were as much responsible for our son dying as the JW organization is. I know Lawrence has worked so hard to get back at the WTS but he made it a consumming, burning determination. He is a better person than me. I could not live with that battle all these years. His daughter died shortly after my son died. Even if he won I don't believe it will change the policy. Very sad situation.
Ruth
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John Doe
I empathize with Mr Hughes, and despise the WTBTS blood policy. However, Bethany received the court ordered transfusions and died anyway. Treatment was stopped because it wasn't working, not because of the WTBTS. How can anybody or anything be responsible for her death other than cancer? It's tragic, but nobody's fault.
I agree. He's merely clogging up the court system.
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