Latest On Calgary Girl: 7/10/02
by AngryXJW 2 Replies latest watchtower medical
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Drue
Read here as well:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020711/ap_wo_en_po/canada_blood_transfusion_1
Supreme Court rejects case of forced blood transfusions for Jehovah's Witness teen-ager with leukemia
Thu Jul 11, 4:02 PM ET
CALGARY, Alberta - Canada's Supreme Court has refused to consider the case of a 16-year-old leukemia patient who was forced to undergo blood transfusions even though it violated her beliefs as a Jehovah's Witness.
Following its usual practice, the court offered no comment Thursday in rejecting the case.
"She was disappointed," lawyer David Gnam said of his client, who cannot be identified by name because she is a minor. "She wanted to know the reasons for that decision, but of course the Supreme Court doesn't give reasons, so it's a little frustrating."
The girl was forced to undergo 38 blood transfusions and four rounds of chemotherapy by the Alberta provincial government. Her treatment ended last week after cancerous lesions appeared on her back, showing the medicine had failed to arrest the leukemia.
According to Gnam, the girl considers the case to be about the rights of mature teen-agers to make their own informed medical choices.
"She said, `If they don't listen to my case, they are going to have to listen to another case in the future,' so she understands that the issue that she's raising continues to be a live concern," Gnam said.
The case divided the girl's family, with her father advocating the transfusions and medical treatment while her mother opposed them.
Jehovah's Witnesses believe the Bible forbids using blood for medical treatment.
The case had gone to court 19 times with lower court judges giving the Alberta government custody of the girl, who was then forced to undergo transfusions. Doctors said conventional blood treatments offered a 40 to 50 percent chance of beating the cancer.
Edited by - Drue on 12 July 2002 8:59:6
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Drue
and news brief here: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020712/ap_on_re_ca/canada_briefs_1
Thursday's Canada News Briefs
Thu Jul 11, 9:41 PM ETBy The Associated Press
CALGARY, Alberta - A dying teenager who fought blood transfusions on religious grounds was disheartened Thursday after losing her bid for Canada's top court to consider the medical rights of mature minors.
The Supreme Court of Canada didn't provide any reasons, as is usual in such proceedings, when it released its decision that it would not hear her case.
"She was disappointed," lawyer David Gnam said of his 16-year-old client.
The decision doesn't affect the Calgary girl's medical situation as the Alberta government last week stopped forcing treatments on the Jehovah's Witness after 38 transfusions and four rounds of chemotherapy failed to arrest her leukemia.
Although her medical condition has improved, she is not expected to live much longer.
Jehovah's Witnesses believe the Bible forbids using blood in any way.
The girl, whose identity is protected under the Alberta Child Welfare Act, had said her case was about the rights of mature teens to make their own informed medical choices.