A Nigerian woman has allowed her two weeks baby to die because her faith does not support blood transfusion.
According to a Twitter post by Dr Chioma @Deekachy_md, the mother was persuaded but she refused to bulge.
Dr Chioma said that the baby was later taken to another ‘Preferred’ hospital’ where he/she died.
However, the name of the hospital was not mentioned.
See her post:
“Madam your baby needs to undergo an urgent surgery and he’ll need blood transfusion too. He’s anaemic.”
“Mom moves over to baby’s bed.
“Nwam, ngwanu, you will die na. God said we shouldn’t take blood.”
“We begged. They refused. He was 2 wks old. I cried. Why? Faith or Murder?
“I cried Doc, when they signed against and took him away. He died in the other ‘Preferred’ hospital where they took him.
“I keep asking what is the boundary. Where can we step in and say No, we’ll do this letter take legal actions or something. I’m tired of this really.
“Religion is messed up. We miss the point.”
The post has however generated controversies on her Twitter page. Twitter users aired their opinions and debated the sensitive issue.
See some posts and comments:
My question first of all is : why bring him to the hospital in the first place? Just so it be that they tried?? Why not save him till the end. And that one writing nonsense about blood transfusion and trying to make it appear sensible to only himself ??
— Ibeh Nkolika Helen™ (@ibeh_helen) April 7, 2018
What alternative will beat ttansfusing blood? Do u even know the reason why blood is transfused in such circumstances? If indeed ur a medic, then u should also know there O2 delivery to tissues ain’t the same and so they can’t suffice for blood.. Let’s be practical and not the
— Chudy (@Chudy1st) April 9, 2018
Seriously,I’m tired of all these “alternatives to blood transfusion” bullshit. People just talk without knowing much about a subject matter. The poor boy was anaemic and was supposed to have an emergency surgery and someone is talking about blood substitutes. Shoro niyen??
— Funmilola (@phunmy295) April 8, 2018
I watched someone I loved die because of it. God wouldn’t want people to die because of some vague scripture.
— Ene killmonger (@shadesofgraham_) April 8, 2018
I’m a doctor and a JW and that thing is bullshit.
— Ene killmonger (@shadesofgraham_) April 8, 2018
Apparently u are not a true JW ?? Atleast 2of your church members died during my HJ cos they refused transfusions and ad we were giving erythropoietin but no way
— Dr.A? (@scothot001) April 8, 2018
Pls if you know you are by anyway related to me and you believe in this crap , pls end that relative thing now!, dont even do this rubbish near me, because hmm, nkem nnokwam na ahu oo https://t.co/d1ti7V0ox1
— joyce omatah (@Auntynaira) April 8, 2018
One of the major problems with the world is religion and it is gradually destroying us and taking away our own ability to make choices. https://t.co/eDvrjW6SbZ
— Joshua Gozie-Ebere (@JoBlinkz) April 8, 2018
Religion is doing a lot damage when it comes to health care and health care service delivery in Nigeria. Sadly, when it involves the pastors or their family members they know how to get the best health care and at any cost. https://t.co/jJZP4eSgux
— olufemi oyekan (@oyekanolufemi) April 8, 2018
Ten years ago, my aunt was anaemic after she gave birth to her third child, the doctor persuaded her to take a blood transfusion. She refused because it was against her JW faith. She died leaving her three children behind.
— Azeez Akeem Abiodun (@zangality) April 7, 2018
If I wasn’t giving blood transfusion when I was sick and almost died. I will not be alive to bury my mum when she died last year and all her effort would have gone to waste. Thank you doctors for all you do.
— Oyeyinka Esther (@Alexcassy) April 7, 2018
Doc, can we get something straight. The issue of “BLOOD TRANSFUSION” is a personal one. It is the right of a patient to either refuse or accept the transfusion of blood. No one is forcing it down anyone’s throat.
— T-E-S-T-I-M-O-N-Y. (@asherslim) April 7, 2018
For them OK. When there is another life concerned then what? Every child has a right to live. Every!
So what if he grows up and doesn’t want to be in that same religion. The law should protect a baby whose only crime was being born to parents who’d bid him farewell while he lives— Dr Chioma (Zobo Sipper) (@Deekachy_md) April 7, 2018
For elective procedures, a full and candid discussion among the anaesthetists, surgeon, parents, and child (if old enough to understand) is essential. It is important to convince that every attempt will be made to avoid blood, but also convey that a doctor would not allow a…
— T-E-S-T-I-M-O-N-Y. (@asherslim) April 7, 2018
You’re welcome, it’s just appalling to see so much ignorance everywhere. Imagine refusing your child health care because some religion says so, since when was it sinful or a crime to keep your child alive, so you would rather commit murder than do a transfusion, yes murder ?
— Pat Ada Eze (@pat_ada_eze) April 7, 2018
Tragic. Faith has transcended from what it should be into a disease. The number of people who have died from faith related causes is alarming. Faith pushes an extremist to kill people, faith causes a woman to let her baby die….
— Emmanuel O. (@okpiiemmanuel) April 7, 2018
Okay sir.. It’s your opinion and I honestly, honestly couldn’t care less, even if i tried. By all means, choose the bible. It’s always been up to you, but read about blood transfusion so, at least you know something about what you’re rejecting. But its not 50/50 if done right.
— Tsukishiro (@Djustein) April 7, 2018
