Help! HLC member coming (page 3)

Shawn10538

Hi cynic,

You definitely don't want to meet with the HLC. It is true that we haven't been able to substantiate a single disassociation based on someone taking a blood transfusion. But it is not policy for them to proactively get any kind of signature from you. So, this guy may be wacko. Don't trust him. You don't even want to meet him. Because if he shows up at the hospital and claims to be your minister , one who has rights to access you, you want to be able to say you don't know the man, unless you already do.

The HLC has two main objectives.

1. to make sure you don't take blood

2. To report whether you have taken blood.

All the other stuff about them informing your doctror on how to use "bloodless" medicine, is just fluff.

The HLC is the death squad. If they even show up at your hospital, the possibility that you are going to die has gone up tremendously. Unless you inform your doctor ahead of time that no member of the Watchtower HLC is to even enter the hospital during you stay, (well, that might be kind of hard to inforce,) but you don't want them getting near you or even near people who are near to you. actually having JWs at the hospital HLC or not may complicate things.

Please give me a call at 562-257-7525, or 310-545-7831. Or pm me.

Zen Dean

Band on the Run

They are so out of place, handing out blood cards. Possessing a blood card could convince a judge you would not want a blood transfusion. You may not be able to communicate at the time of decision. The elders can't search you to see if you carry it. The hospital will not grant them entry if you forbid them. Living seems to be more important than friendly relationships with the elders.

They have a right to the blood doctrine. Chasing people down to enforce it is another matter. The hospital will not release your records to them.

They have a legal department. Hire your own legal department. Life is important.

I tend to be too good a nice girl. Time to grow up and stand on your wishes for your body. It is not their life but yours. Add a baby to the mix. The baby certainly never made an informed decision about blood and Jehovah.

One would think they would retreat from this teaching. Its consequences are the most dreadful. Reading other posts, it sounds as though there is plenty of maneuvering room. Savviness helps.

jamiebowers

I'm not trying to scare you, but the article linked below says that jw women are six times more likely to die in childbirth. Your fear of the doctor unneccessarily using blood transfusions is unfounded. Is staying in this cult really worth your life? What's better: your mom having a breakdown if you da by accepting a blood transfusion, or your mother raising your poor helpless baby in this cult, because you chose to refuse blood? Meet with the HLC if you must, but don't sign anything, even a blood card, until you consut with your physician.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-06-15-jehovahs-witness_N.htm

PrincessCynic

Thank you so much for all the replies and helpful advice, it's given me a lot to think about.

Last night I had a heart to heart with my wonderful husband. He knows exactly how I feel, we've been through the whole subject together using JWFacts and he agrees with the reasoning presented there. Personally he would choose to stay loyal to the GB, even though he knows they've probably got it wrong, and hope for a resurrection. But he respects that I can't do that and that I'm not willing to die for something that I don't agree with.

I asked him if he would voice my wishes at the hospital if I was unable to and he agreed, he would allow them to transfuse me or the baby if it was necessary. I told them we won't be asking the HLC to attend the hospital and he's okay with that. I love him so much!

You all suggest talking to my doctor but things are different here in the UK. As far as I know I don't have a doctor as such. I just have a community midwife who takes care of me during pregnancy. At the place where I'll likely give birth there are different midwives working that I won't get to meet beforehand. The birthing unit is next to the hospital so I won't be far from a doctor if things go wrong but as far as I know I don't get to meet a doctor before hand. It sounds like you're much better looked after in the States.

Thanks again everyone, I'll keep you updated

notjustyet

This has me wondering if in the USA hospitals keep on file my previous info about being a JW and no blood etc, etc.?

Would this older info shared in the past be used as a reason to not give me life saving blood if the need arose? Should I contact the Hospitals now and have this info updated, even if I am not a patient in the Hospital at the moment.

There are some JWs that work in the Hospital and I wonder now that we are fading if in the future if our names came up if they would dig to see if we were given blood and or at least look to see if our religious persuassion has changed.

If by any chance the previous info could be used to prevent blood from being administered I would like to get the records corrected now before I actually need it.

Thoughts, experiences ?

yourmomma

this is the new procedure, there was a letter posted on this forum a while ago that told elders to meet with pregnant JW's and there was some documentation involved. i'll look for it if i get time.

my only advice is make sure you tell your doctor you will accept blood in a life or death situation if he thinks you are a no blood taking jw.

to cut right down to the core, the HLC is there to either make sure you and/or your child die instead of taking blood, and will put as much pressure as possible on you for that to happen, or make sure you are DA'd for taking blood. that may sound harsh, but i submit it is the reality of the situation.

TJ Curioso

This matter is stricly betwin You and Your doctor. Say yes to everything the elders told you to do, BUT tell to your doctor privatly that if a occurrence of LIFE and DEATH occurs, You want that He makes everything at possible to save your life and/or your baby. No more words are necessary, for he will understand what You mean. Say that this matter have to remain absolutly confidencial. Don't tell anything to your husband if he does not agree with you in this matter.

NewChapter

NotJust--

When my stand changed on blood, I told every doctor, I mention it at EVERY hospital visit, I do every thing possible to make sure that old information does not pop up. You sign a consent form---you can write on it---a little note saying you have changed you views and will accept all blood may be another layer. This is just what I do, and I don't know if it is enough. The hospital also told me if I fill out a new Durable Power Of Attorney, they would go with the most recent one. They have the forms there---unfortunately they didn't get it to me, and things moved quickly. Just keep bringing it up.

I'm not sure how the UK works, but if I couldn't know exactly who was going to care for me, I would write up a letter and make a hundred copies---signed and witnessed---and pass them out like Skittles.

NC

Giordano

I wouldn't meet with any brother I'd use health issues as the excuse not to attend meetings or go out in service, tell him to give your husband the paperwork then toss it out. Tell your mother it's too upsetting to even think about a serious need for blood and you'll do whats right at that time. Play the depression card after the birth of your child. I'd use it all to terminate your relationship with the JW's.

This entire business should be an eye opener for your husband. It is the reason my wife and I left that and the looney Armageddon concept. Both beliefs make the JW's a death cult. They don't see it like that and neither did the people in Jonestown.

My mother was a believer by choice, for the children of believers you are expected to become a JW you are not given a choice....instead as a child you are threatened and punished. Now as an adult you are threatened with punishment. This is a good time to end the control they try to have over you.

diamondiiz

notjustyet:

Does your hospital ask you questions regarding your religion before admitting you? If so, they probably have you in your system as a jw. I know here in Canada, before my wife went in they got that info from her so she's probably still on file as a jw. They may ask this question every time they admit someone which may not be a big deal but the problem may arise if you're marked as jw on their system and they admit you while you're unconscious.

Help! HLC member coming

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