05 OCT 2017, 11:47 AM - Court orders blood transfusion to newborn whose parents opposed religion ;-(

[Queen Esther]

JUSTICE -    05 OCT 2017, 11:47 AM

FREE DIARY
Court orders blood transfusion to newborn whose parents opposed religion

SANTIAGO -   The Civil Chamber of the Court of Children and Adolescents (NNA) has filed a Constitutional Amparo Action against a couple of Jehovah's Witnesses who refuse to have a blood transfusion done to their daughter who was born in childbirth prematurity of seven months with health complications.

In that sense, the court issued the sentence ordering a clinic in Santiago where the newborn is hospitalized, make the blood transfusion as many times as necessary, according to the corresponding medical protocols.

The 15-day-old girl, who was diagnosed with macrochromatic normochromic anemia, severe thrombopenia and a severe acute bacterial process, began to receive blood transfusion immediately.

Judge María Martínez Malagón declared the amparo, based on the Constitution of the Republic, the Code for the Protection and Fundamental Rights of Children and Adolescents (Law 136-03), the Declaration of Rights Human Rights and the Declaration of the Rights of Children and Adolescents, as well as General Health Law No. 42-01, the Dominican Penal Code and the Organic Law of the Constitutional Court and Constitutional Procedures (Law 137-11) .

The name of the newborn and her parents were not disclosed to protect the girl's identity, indicates the information that was provided through a press release.

Jehovah's Witnesses reject allogeneic blood transfusions (ie blood, red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma) and preoperative donation of autologous blood, based on several Bible verses. The patient practicing this religion has the right, based on the rights of individual autonomy, to decide whether to transfuse or not. In the case of minors or pregnant patients, the decision is passed by a direct relative.