The Excessive Court docket has made orders permitting a hospital to offer a blood transfusion, if obligatory, to a member of the Jehovah’s Witness religion.
The order was made on Wednesday by Mr Justice Tony O’Connor who mentioned he accepted the affected person’s life could also be “on the road” and that he might require a blood transfusion.
The choose mentioned he revered the person’s non secular beliefs however the court docket was glad that he presently lacks the capability to make an knowledgeable determination concerning the medical care he’s being offered.
The court docket famous that no Advance Care Directive, a doc held by members of the Jehovah’s Witness religion stating that they don’t seem to be to be given any blood or blood merchandise below any circumstances, had been offered to the hospital in relation to the person.
The court docket heard that if the person’s scenario deteriorated he might have a blood transfusion to both save his life or to keep away from incurring any additional accidents.
The affected person, a younger man who can’t be recognized for authorized causes, is presently in intensive care unit following a severe street visitors incident.
These accountable for his care are hopeful he’ll get better, however at current the person is on a ventilator, receiving treatment by way of a tube and unable to speak with anybody.
Donal McGuinness BL, for the hospital, mentioned that for non secular causes the person’s household weren’t ready to consent to him being given any blood or blood merchandise.
Counsel mentioned the person doesn’t presently require a transfusion, but when his scenario had been to deteriorate then such an motion may be required to save lots of his life or stop additional harm.
Mr McGuinness mentioned the issue was sophisticated by the truth that following his admission to hospital, and as soon as it was realized that he’s a Jehovah’s Witness, the person gave conflicting directions about if he would settle for a blood transfusion. Counsel mentioned the hospital accepts that because of his accidents the person lacks the psychological capability to both consent to or refuse such remedy.
He mentioned an extra complicating difficulty was that the hospital had been informed by the person’s household that he had signed a doc stating that he would refuse a blood transfusion in all circumstances because of his non secular beliefs. Nevertheless, this doc couldn’t be situated by the person’s household regardless of an in depth search, counsel mentioned.
The person’s spouse, whereas reaffirming their objections to blood transfusions on religion grounds, informed the court docket that the household weren’t opposing the hospital’s utility. The court docket heard that the household hopes the person’s situation improves to the diploma {that a} transfusion wouldn’t be required. The household thanked the hospital for the remedy it has offered for him up to now.
After granting the hospital the orders it sought, the choose mentioned the hospital might return to court docket and search to discharge the order if the person’s well being improves to the extent that he regains capability and is ready to give clear directions about his remedy.