Religion or Health: Australian Pregnant Mother Dies After Refusing To Take Blood Transfusion Due To Religious Beliefs

In a shocking incident, the facts of which were recently reported in the Journal of Internal Medicine, a 28-year-old, heavily pregnant Australian women refused to take a blood transfusion after being diagnosed with a treateble form of leukaemia. The decision cost the life of the woman and the unborn child.

According to the report, the woman came to the hospital with pre-eclampsia and acute promyelocytic leukaemia that require immediate treatment. As a part of the treatment, the doctors prescribed chemotherapy in combination with blood transfusion to the woman so that her body is able to tolerate the cancer treatment.

The pregnant Jehovah’s Witness decided not to opt for the blood transfusion because of her religious beliefs. With no blood transfusion, the doctors could not go ahead with the chemotherapy. Such a decision is acceptable in a region like Victoria, where “sound-minded adults” can choose to get a refusal certificate from a medical practitioner.

Soon the unborn child died in the womb, followed by the mother who developed an “ischaemic stroke, febrile neutropoenia and multi-organ failure,” reported The Herald Sun.

The doctors argue that even though it is the choice of the mother to take or refuse a treatment, the issue becomes ethical and moral when life of an unborn child is involved.

“Refusal of a lifesaving intervention by an informed patient is generally well-respected, but the rights of a mother to refuse such interventions on behalf of her foetus is more controversial. A doctor indeed has moral obligations to both the pregnant woman, and perhaps with differing priority to the unborn foetus,” said the doctors, reported The Herald Sun.

To report a problem or to leave a feedback on the article, send an e-mail to emailtoguneet@gmail.com.