Faith or folly? The death of Shropshire’s Emma Gough has stirred an emotive debate about our right to determine our own fate, no matter whom our actions might hurt.
Emma died after suffering massive blood loss just hours after giving birth to twins at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. She refused a blood transfusion because it went against her faith as a Jehovah’s Witness.
Emma faced the ultimate test of her faith and remained steadfast. Hopefully, she has her reward.
The faith itself has been strengthened by this case, though not in a way, I suspect, any Jehovah’s Witnesses would welcome. So much for the positives.
And the other side of the coin?
A 22-year-old woman is dead, possibly unnecessarily. Her chance of a fulfilling life, to enjoy her new family, to see her twins grow up and have families themselves, is gone.
A 24-year-old man has lost his wife, his childhood sweetheart, the love of his life. A newborn boy and girl must grow up without a mother.
Emma’s parents Glenda and Jim are grieving the untimely loss of their child.
Staff at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital must come to terms with losing a patient they might have saved. The feeling of utter powerlessness can only be imagined.
Here, was a clash of conscience. Jehovah’s Witnesses may make sacrificial demands of themselves, but they deny others the right to their own beliefs, for how can medics adhere to the Hippocratic Oath under such circumstances?
It is believed the oath was written by Hippocrates, the father of medicine, or one of his students, in the 4th century BC and is still sworn to by physicans today.
They swear, among other things, to keep the sick “from harm and injustice”.
And it concludes: “If I fulfill this oath and do not violate it, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and art, being honoured with fame among all men for all time to come; if I transgress it and swear falsely, may the opposite of all this be my lot.”
Where a blood transfusion can save a life, this puts the medic directly at odds with the Jehovah’s Witness who believes receiving blood is a sin because God has forbidden it in the Bible. Two ancient creeds - and only one can be satisfied.
The Irish High Court is embroiled in an action brought by a Dublin maternity hospital which sought a court order to allow them to transfuse a Jehovah’s Witness after a difficult birth.
Coombe Hospital has brought the action against Ms K. The hospital won its court order and the woman was given a transfusion. In a counter-claim, Ms K contends the administration of the transfusion was a breach of her rights. She also claims the hospital committed assault on her person. The court’s ruling is expected around the end of the year. No-one can envy the judges.
By Neil Thomas
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