Jehovah's Witness Sex offender's father calls for son's blood refusal to be respected

by Sol Reform 10 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

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  Sol Reform

  http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-26984935 11 April 2014 Last updated at 06:07 ET

  Sex offender's father calls for son's blood refusal to be respected

  The 23-year-old offender is being held at a psychiatric hospital after self-harming Continue reading the main story

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  The father of a jailed mentally-ill sex offender has told a court his son should have the right to refuse a blood transfusion on religious grounds. Nottinghamshire Heathcare NHS Trust has asked for a ruling on enforcing a transfusion after the 23-year-old psychiatric unit patient self-harmed.

  The unnamed inmate, who is serving a five-year term, is a Jehovah's Witness. His father said his son's decision should be "respected".

  The judge issued an interim order supporting the son. Continue reading the main story

  “Start Quote

  In my view that decision should be respected. He should have the right to make this decision”

  End Quote

  Mentally-ill offender's father Mr Justice Holman said the case raised a "terrible dilemma" because people had a right to respect for their religious beliefs but the state also had a responsibility to protect the mentally ill. Blood loss 'life threatening' The High Court was been told the prisoner, who cannot be named, is serving five years for a sex assault and adopted Jehovah's Witness teachings about eight months ago.

  He was moved from prison to a specialist secure unit at a psychiatric hospital after self-harming. Nottinghamshire doctors said the offender, who was detained under the terms of mental health legislation, had suffered significant blood loss and his haemoglobin had fallen to "an extremely life-threatening level".

  They advised a blood transfusion but the man, who had a "severe personality disorder", refused to receive blood products on the basis of his faith. The father, also a Jehovah's Witness, who was giving evidence at a hearing in London, said his son "clearly has a long series of mental and emotional problems". "That, in my view, didn't affect his capacity to make this decision," he said.

  "In my view that decision should be respected. He should have the right to make this decision."

  Further evidence is still to be heard in the case but it is thought a ruling will be made before the end of the month.
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  LisaRose

  If he was not in a mental hospital and self harming then his refusal to take blood should be protected. But who knows if his refusal to take blood is just another way to harm himself, rather than a true religious conviction?

  If he was that concerned about following the JW requirements, then why is he self harming? On the other hand if he is forced to accept a blood transfusion, will that contribute to his mental issues?

  I would hate to be the judge making that decision.
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  LisaRose

  Double post
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  Scully

  If he is mentally ill, how on earth can he "adopt" religious beliefs of any kind? The whole concept of capacity comes into play here, and wouldn't surprise me in the least to find out that the JWs glommed on to this mentally ill sex offender in the hopes of "rehabilitating" him.

  Frankly, this kind of practice disgusts me - for the predatory nature of the JWs in manipulating the mentally ill, plus the possibility that a claim of mental illness attracted the JWs to the convicted sex offender - perhaps this is someone who is putting on a good show and using the JWs to help him be released from incarceration.

  I'd be inclined to let him refuse a blood transfusion. The mentally ill have the right to refuse all kinds of help, and they are actually refused help as well if their behaviour is bizarre enough. One less sex offender to worry about, imo.
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  JWdaughter

  Menal illness does not preclude the ability to choose a religion. I am sure that it suits the JWs as much as the rest of us for this man to do himself harm if it keeps him from harming others. avoiding yet another criminal case against a jw suits the borg too,
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  Violia

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-harm

  This wiki article talks about self harm with many links to follow.
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  Vidiot

  Sol Reform - "The father of a jailed mentally-ill sex offender has told a court his son should have the right to refuse a blood transfusion on religious grounds."

  That's just completely f**ked-up on so many levels.

  If anything, the circumstances of this case can only undermine the validity of the blood ban in the eyes of the courts and the public eye.

  So... I suppose it's a good thing?
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  Band on the Run

  Details are important. People do not have a right to self-harm. How did he get an instrument to cut himself in prison/mental hospital? Is he committed against his will? It seems as though he acted out when he abused the child and now he acts out even more. Now he wants the govt. to become a party to suicide, which is still illegal in many places. Well, the judge earns the big bucks to make these decisions.
• 

  rebel8

  Blood transfusion 'can be refused'

  Updated on the 25 April 2014 13:10

  Sounds like he does not have a condition that would impair his ability to decide what religion to be, what medical care to have, or whether or not to rape someone.

  This story is the first time I've personally heard of someone refusing a blood transfusion due to a self-inflicted wound. Interesting--this story has a little bit of several different jw hot button issues--mental health care, blood, and sex crimes.
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  L3G

  Thx for the post.