Canada Looks At Blood Transfusions

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that it would be a sin for them to receive blood transfusions - but at what age should children be allowed to make that decision for themselves? At what age should hospitals be prevented from forcing blood transfusions on minors? That's a difficult question being taken up by Canada's Supreme Court.

The Edmonton Journal explains:

"This is my chance to speak out," Candice Unland said in an interview Saturday, speaking publicly for the first time in the four years since a judge ordered her to have a blood transfusion against her will. "I want them to listen to me now," Unland said. "They did not listen to me then."

This won't be an easy issue to deal with - the government and medical professionals have a duty to protect the health and life of minors, but at some point they do have to step back and respect a person's autonomy. Where, exactly, does that point occur?

Read More:

• Jehovah's Witnesses (glossary entry)
• Jehovah's Witnesses (critiques)
• Book Review: Awakening of a Jehovah's Witness: Escape from the Watchtower Society, by Diane Wilson.