Jehovah’s witness: the Court authorises blood transfusion to a baby despite the refusal of parents

GUY MARTEL / QMI AGENCY

Nicolas Saillant

Friday, 14 July 2017 17:44

UPDATE
Friday, 14 July 2017 17:44

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The superior Court has allowed the doctors of the Mother-Child Centre (CHUL) to do a blood transfusion to a baby born despite the refusal of Jehovah’s witness parents.

The “baby-daughter” of the parents of the region of Bellechasse, Jehovah’s witnesses, was born with an abdominal mass, which requires an emergency operation according to the doctors. The parents were open to the trade as such, but refused any blood transfusion during the operation.

Due to the risk of death if the emergency operation had not taken place, the CHUL is, therefore, addressed to the superior Court on Wednesday, the day after the birth, to be able to proceed despite the notice of the parents.

“The right to life and security of the child of the defendants should take precedence over the freedom of their religious belief”, argued the lawyers of the Mother-Child Centre quoted by Radio-Canada. The judge acquiesced to the request.

The operation will be performed and blood transfusions may therefore be carried out, if necessary, by the physicians of the new-born.