Jehovah’s Witness Emma Gough Died After Refusing Blood Transfusion
Filed under: News | By: Kerry
Posted on: November 5, 2007 | 42 Comments
Friends of Emma Gough where told last night how the devout Jehovah’s Witness cuddled her newborn twins then died just hours later after refusing a blood transfusion.
Emma who was just 22 whose life could have been saved after complications set in ticked a form before the birth insisting she should not be given blood.
It’s reported that Medics begged her husband Anthony and other members of Emma’s family to overrule her after she suffered severe blood loss and began slipping away.
But because Jehovah’s Witnesses are barred from having transfusions they refused insisting the young mum would not want to betray her principles.
Stunned friends last night described her grieving husband a fellow Witness who has been left to bring up the motherless twin boy and girl as distraught.
Peter Welsh who was the couple’s best man at their wedding said that “We can’t believe she died after childbirth in this day and age, with all the technology there is. What makes it even more sad is Emma had time to hold and start to bond with her twins before the complications set in.”
But the truth here is that the medics could have probley saved Emma but because of Emma’s faith they could not. I think that if someone could be saved especially in these circumstances then her family should have done what ever it took whether that is against their faith just to save her so she could have been with her babies.
What do you think?
Emma died in the early hours of October 25, a week last Thursday.
Both sides of the family including Anthony’s parents Sham and Ian Gough closed ranks and remained tight-lipped.
A woman relative mixing baby feeds for the twins at Emma’s home insisted: “We have nothing to say.”
Best man Peter – also a Jehovah’s Witness – said: “Luckily Anthony is part of a big family.”
Part of the Jehovah faith says the Bible prohibits the “consumption, storage and transfusion of blood” and quotes the book of Acts and its said that some Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that to have a transfusion is the same as consuming or eating blood.
A spokesman for the local Kingdom Hall, where Emma and Anthony worshipped, said: “This is a terrible time for the whole family. They are all grieving terribly. The entire Witness community is distraught and including them in their prayers.”
A coroner’s office source confirmed: “We are investigating why she did not have a transfusion. An inquest will be held.”
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The following website summarizes over 315 U.S. court cases and lawsuits affecting children of Jehovah’s Witness Parents, including 100+ cases where the JW Parents refused to consent to life-saving blood transfusions for their dying children:
DIVORCE, BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS, AND OTHER LEGAL ISSUES AFFECTING CHILDREN OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
http://jwdivorces.bravehost.com
I used to be a Jehovah’s witness and even though I found their rules and regulations too strict I still now, even after leaving the congregation, would refuse to take blood. There are so many risks when it comes to transfusions and nowadays there are loads of alternatives!! My cousin who had leukemia went through exactly the same thing. The doctors told him he would die if he refused to have a blood transfusion. It then turned out that if he had taken the blood he would’ve died within a few days, however thanks to saying ‘no’ he was able to live an extra year…!
Its tragic and needless .What Happens if at some point later her husband and/or family decide to leave this religion concluding it isn’t true afterall .How will they feel then ..
And what if the watchtower changes its stance in the future like it did on Vaccinations in the past.Where would that put those who died over a blood transfusion .
I believe the same way and I am not a Jehovah witness: “…its said that some Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that to have a transfusion is the same as consuming or eating blood.”
Why didn’t the hospital give this young woman an elixir of known herbal remedies that are known to build up the blood? The body will make its own red and white blood cells back when natural remedies are used to encourage and support the blood supply system of the body.
Blood transfusion are immoral, just like transplanting parts of one person’s body on another, which is the same as consuming human flesh.
The facts are many people die in hospital even with transfusions. Perhaps it might be wise to wait until the coroners report. Overal the stand of Jehovah’s Witnesses has aided the medical community encouraging far safer alternatives to donor transfusions.
The question ought not to be whether you or I think what she did was correct. You and I are just like her. We too can make wrong decisions. The question ought to be, what is God’s opinion on the matter. A quick look at the Bible reveals that any religious belief which denies that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, is a doctrine of the Devil. The Jw’s and Mormons to name only two, don’t found their beliefs on the Bible but on additional works provided by two false prophets. Charles T. Russel and Joseph Smith. Charles T. Russell predicted the return of Jesus Christ in 1874. It never happened so he then did some recalcualtions. Joseph Smith was actually a con man who ended up in prison for his shinanigans. If people can simply examine the root of these beliefs, they can then fell the whole tree instead of just chopping off certain branches, that they diagnose as malignant, not by Bible study, but from their own gut feeling. Without the Bible as God’s authority, we are each just shooting from the hip with our own opinion on the matter. But of course, don’t listen to me. Check out God’s Words for yourself.
This lady followed her “conscience”, some will say.
The problem is, her “conscience” was taught to her, if not dictated to her, by a religious organizationa that has a hideous history of changing their teachings regarding life saving mediacla procedures such as organ transplants (the Watchtower called them “cnnabalistic” in the late 60’s), and an ever evolving, inconsistent, confusing doctrine regarding blood.
Take a look for yourselves what this organization has taught people over the years regarding blood.
http://jehovah.net.au/blood.html
http://propmin.blogspot.com/
Firstly I am an ex-Jehovah’s Witness.
I may not be 100% up to speed with their curent thinking.
Other members of my family- parents, sister and her immediate family are still Witnesses.
I’m not here to defend them but to explain in simple terms something not relly appreciated.
If you are a JW you believe that a resurrection to life eternal is your reward for remaining faithful up to and including death.
You can argue what the bible says, or what God intended when the scriptures were penned but JW’s have NO interest in anyone elses point of view on scripture.
You do not have to understand anything about the organisation except that they will die rather than go against what they believe.
It seems “moronic” to some, I guess some people might draw parallels to suicide bombers, another emotive and difficult subject to understand looking in from the outside.
Society affords many people clearly living seemingly “immoral” lives, in direct conflict with biblical teachings a platform to speak, equal rights on many things and the right to lead a life without danger of abuse and hatred.
So whilst I do not support the JW’s point of view about resurrection which leaves me unable to defend their actions, I can show compassion and express my sadness towards the family that has lost a daughter, mother and wife.
Maybe all you JW haters could try that for a change ?
Does this mean that a devout Jehovah Witness cannot and does not eat meat? Because anyone who eats dead flesh cannot possibly avoid consuming the blood of other animals, perhaps in minute amounts but nevertheless it is unavoidable.
The unpleasant religious tradtion of bleeding animals to death after killing them will not prevent it either.
The Orwellian Watchtower world.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are brainwashed by watchtower cult indoctrination from 12 senile old men in New York city.
The problem is they are forbidden to use critical thinking skills