LETTER SENT TO: VARIOUS IRISH NEWSPAPERS
SUBJECT: JEHOVAH WITNESSES AND BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS
DATE SENT: 22-9-06
Dear Sir,
Many issues of a civil, ethical and religious kind flow from the
decision of the High Court to grant the Coombe Hospital right to
enforce a Jehovah Witness woman to receive a blood transfusion against
her will.
One underlying reason why Jehovah Witnesses refuse such treatment is
fear of being excommunicated by their Organisation, as authoritatively
directed by their Watchtower Magazine. We can only but imagine the
impact that such a discipline has upon any individual whose life is
bound up in an Organisation which they believe is the only vehicle of
salvation.
Unknown to many Jehovah Witnesses here in Ireland, the Jehovah
Witnesses in Bulgaria took their government to the European Court of
Human Rights in 1998 to gain religious recognition (Application No.
28626/95). A deal was struck whereby any Jehovah Witness in
Bulgaria could have a blood transfusion if they so desired: "The
applicant undertook with regard to its stance on blood transfusions to
draft a statement for inclusion in its statute providing that members
should have free choice in the matter for themselves and their
children, without any control or sanction on the part of the
association." The whole ruling can be accessed at the ECHR
Website: <http://www.echr.coe.int/echr>
If a Jehovah Witness in Bulgaria can have a blood transfusion without
incurring any sanction by their Organisation, then surely the Jehovah
Witnesses in Ireland should be able to enjoy the same liberty? For the
record, I am not, nor have I ever been, a Jehovah Witness.
Yours faithfully,
Colin Maxwell
CLICK HERE FOR THE BULGARIA RULING RULING
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LETTER SENT TO: THE EXAMINER
SUBJECT: JEHOVAH WITNESSES AND BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS
DATE SENT: 12-3-1999
Dear Sir,
Conor
Ganley’s article on Jehovah Witnesses and blood transfusions
(11-3-99) is incomplete without mentioning two important issues.
One, The Bulgaria Ruling which is an
amicable though binding agreement entered into between the Bulgarian
Government and the Watchtower movement. This Ruling allows JW’s
in that country to take blood transfusions if necessary without any
religious sanction on the part of the Watchtower Society. This ruling
came into force about a year ago, but my experience is that very few
JW’s are even aware of it. If it were to apply equally to every
Witness in every country then the issue of refusing blood transfusions
might not arise in many cases.
Two. The Watchtower movement makes allowance for some blood components
to be taken, but not others. For instance, a JW can take albumin if his
conscience allows, but is not at liberty to accept plasma. Why not?
Plasma consists of 90% water with the remaining 10% consisting of
various proteins all of which are acceptable on their own to
JW’s. Yet put them all together - add water - and they become
plasma and so are refused. It has been likened to being allowed to eat
egg, tomato, ham, lettuce, bread etc., but forbidden to make a salad
sandwich! Such distinctions are purely arbitrary, decided by 18 old men
in a far away country. They could be lifted tomorrow and many lives
saved.
For the record, I am not and never have been a Jehovah Witness.
Yours faithfully,
Colin Maxwell.
CLICK HERE FOR THE BULGARIA RULING RULING