- by: Staff reporter
- From: Herald Sun
- June 02, 2012 12:00AM
DOCTORS have made an urgent plea to the South Australian Supreme Court to help them save the life of a Jehovah's Witness girl, 4, who is dying of leukaemia.
Justice Richard White yesterday heard the girl, who cannot be identified, was diagnosed with cancer of the blood and bone marrow on Monday.
Doctors advised she have a blood transfusion but her parents objected on religious grounds.
Their opposition prompted the hospital to petition the court saying that, without treatment, the girl would die in a matter of weeks.
In emotional scenes yesterday, the girl's father wept as he spoke of his love for his daughter. But he explained that his family's faith prohibited blood transfusions.
"We adhere to strict Bible principles and one of those is to abstain from blood," he said. "The hospital are doing a great job ... the only thing we don't consent to is the issue of blood."
Yesterday Justice White said treatment was in the little girl's best interests.
In her evidence, paediatric oncologist Dr Petra Ritchie said the treatment would give the girl a 90 per cent chance of survival.
Asked what would happen otherwise, Dr Ritchie replied: "She will die ... I would say in a matter of weeks."
Ken Gluche, for the girl's parents, said his clients "deeply love their child".
"They do seek the best medical care for their daughter, the only issue relates to the blood transfusion or the use of blood products," he said.