It looks like there have been some clarifications from yesterday's story. The mom involved isn't even a JW. But this follow-up story focuses on the JW's anyway.
http://www.theomahachannel.com/health/2470112/detail.html
Hospital Lawsuit WithdrawnMother Who Refused
Surgery For Her Baby, Hospital Reach Agreement
OMAHA, Neb. -- Children's Hospital in Omaha has withdrawn its lawsuit
against a mother who refused to allow doctors to perform surgery on her
baby. The mother did not want a surgery to correct a heart defect the
child has. The mother said her religion prohibits the blood transfusion
that would be needed to perform the surgery, so she wouldn't allow
doctors to do the procedure.
The hospital and mother have reached an agreement, but neither side
will comment on the details.
Some religions dictate that blood transfusions are unnecessary,
dangerous and immoral. "Genesis 9, chapter 4: 'Only flesh with its soul, its
blood you must not eat,'" said Len Widhalm, explaining the biblical
passage his religion--the Jehovah's Witnesses--relies on as proof blood
transfusions are prohibited. People of his faith sometimes forego medical
treatment to avoid relying on blood transfusions.
"The blood does represent the life that comes from Jehovah," said
Widhalm, "and so he has the ultimate decision as to what to do with that
life."
The Jehovah's Witnesses have a strong alliance, which steps into action
when a member of their church faces decision on surgery. The church has
1,600 hospital liaison committees around the world to help patients
find alternatives. The church has produced videos to help patients find
hospitals that specialize in bloodless medicine where procedures to
reduce blood loss are the focus.
This way, refusing treatment in the beginning doesn't mean an end for
the patient.
"We feel God's law is more important than trying to save our own
lives," said Widhalm. But, he says, sometimes a parent's decision not to
treat a child is viewed badly by the public. "Many times (it is) construed
as negligent because we deny certain health care."
Instead, Widhalm said, parents should be commended for upholding such
strong beliefs.
In cases involving children, a hospital is required by law to step in.
Toby Schonfeld is on the medical ethics board for the University of
Nebraska Medical Center. She said that before a case turns into a lawsuit,
a hospital makes every attempt to work with the parent.
"We don't think of it as the medical team against the family because
that's not what it is about," said Schonfeld. "It's about the medical
community helping the family to come to whatever decision it is that works
best for everyone involved."
While Jehovah's Witnesses are one example of religions that discourage
blood transfusions, the mother named in the Omaha lawsuit is not a
Jehovah's Witness. Thursday, a judge will hear both sides of the case and a
decision will be made whether the hospital should proceed with the
surgery.