A Telford mum died just hours after giving birth to twins after refusing a blood transfusion because of her Jehovah’s Witness faith.Emma Gough, from Dawley, suffered severe blood loss following complications from the birth at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
But doctors were unable to save the 22-year-old because she had stated she did not want to receive blood. Her funeral was due to take place today.
It is thought Mrs Gough, who worked at high street store Next in Telford Shopping Centre, cuddled her newborn son and daughter, who are both healthy, before the complications set in.
Speaking to the Shropshire Star today, husband Anthony, also a Jehovah’s Witness, said the family was doing its best to come to terms with the tragedy.
The 24-year-old central heating engineer is now caring for the twins at their home in Conroy Drive, which has been flooded with cards of support.
He said: “With everything that’s happened, it’s very difficult for everyone. We are coping the best we can.”
Mr and Mrs Gough, who were teenage sweethearts, married in Barbados in December 2005 in the company of about 30 friends and family members.
Tom Taylor, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals Trust chief executive, said: “We offer our sincere condolences to the family at this difficult time.
“Because events such as these are so rare, it is normal procedure to undertake a full internal review and also to inform the coroner so an inquest can take place.”
It is understood the review will ensure the correct procedures were being followed.
The trust declined to comment further on the circumstances.
A spokesman for Shrewsbury coroner’s office said Emma had given birth to a boy and a girl, who were perfectly healthy.
He said the cause of death was recorded initially as complications of profound anaemia, due to haemorrhage and complications of a twin delivery.
She died on October 25. An inquest was opened on October 30 and has been adjourned to a later date.
Jehovah’s Witness Terry Lovejoy, who knows the Goughs and attends Kingdom Hall in Wrockwardine Wood, said: “The family at the moment are grieving for the loss of Emma and we just want to support and help them.
“We understand the family’s grief and are keen to support them.”
A spokeswoman for Next said her colleagues at the town centre store were very upset. She said: “Emma will be greatly missed and our thoughts are with the family at this very sad time.”
A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “Emma was a lovely person. She would have made an absolutely wonderful mum.
“She will be greatly missed. It’s really sad about the circumstances.”
And a family friend who declined to be named said: “She was a bubbly young lady. She was friendly and always willing to help anybody.”
Paul Gillies, spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Britain, said members of the faith believe blood transfusions are prohibited by certain Biblical passages.
“We take the views on blood we do because we want to have a good conscience,” he said.
“For us, the decision about blood isn’t as difficult as people would imagine because we have confidence the Creator knows what he is talking about.”
Picture: Emma and Anthony Gough on their wedding day in Barbados (Courtesy of The Sun).
Share this article:
What are these?