These sorts of stories really bother me. This kid, raised as a Jehova’s Witness, decides to turn down a blood transfusion that would have saved his live, on the grounds that it would make him “unclean and unworthy.”
Of course, when I say “he decided,” I’m simplifying things a bit. There’s no way a young teenager could make this sort of decision rationally. He was influenced by the adults around him who instilled his deep religious faith, and he interpreted this faith (with help from his aunt) to mean that he should kill himself rather than accept medical treatment.
His birth parents, who no longer had custody of him, flew to the hearing to advocate that he should receive the treatment, but ultimately a judge ruled that he could refuse treatment if he wanted to. While it’s easy to blame religion and faith for this tragedy, and they certainly aren’t blameless, we shouldn’t forget people like this judge. He applauded the kid’s maturity in the decision, rather than doing what he should have done: explaining that he was too young to make such a decision, and that respecting crazy religious belief isn’t as important as saving lives.
the aunt should be arrested for murder
This is without a doubt an absolute tragedy for one so young to die, but I think you’re being very patronising here. He was 14 – whilst at that age it is easy to argue he didn’t know what he was signing up to and he was impressionable, death is not that hard to understand. One of the pivotal points of any religion is the belief of what happens when we die, and if you force a person to take an action they believe will deem them worthy of hell, then you’re asking them to carry on with a life they believe will only lead to eternal condemnation.
I would have made the same decision at 11, and still now. Jehovah’s witnesses don’t just say “Don’t take blood”, they show him the scriptures in the bible, and explain why. And if he did, they wouldn’t treat him differently anyways.
I’m not saying that many children aren’t influenced by the adults that raised them, because they are. What I am saying is that many DO know the reasons why, and it isn’t just a case of being too young to know.
I know they did more than simply tell him “don’t take blood.†No doubt they gave him all sorts of “evidence” from their sacred book. That has nothing to do with my point.
He was extremely impressionable and only got one side of the story. Most reasonable people would not have made the decision he made, but he had formed his world view almost exclusively with the input of extremists (especially his aunt), and thus made an irrational decision.
I say its too easy to blame the judge. This crap wouldnt happen if people didnt believe crazy things. The problem is that fighting all of religion is harder than just fighting the craziest ones on the edge, so we dont usually do it.
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where is this boy?parents of this litle one might have asked. there after is found in the temple with the teachers of the law . At only 2 years younger than the boy in discusion,Jesus demostrated how knowledgeble he was.Others may think Jesus was difrent from our boy.Yet did you know how old was king Josaiah meshioned in the bible when he first reighn? just as Jesus was when he was found in the Temple.At that age he made big time dicitions for the Land he ruled. Bible the word of God teaches to train the child from infancy, so much so that even when he grow will never turn from the truth.The faith demostrated by this Young person is comendable.
The sad part of this discussion is that doctors and the medical community keep secret and never discuss how many people are killed by blood transfusions. Even if they are not killed their recovery is extremely set back and complicated. They cover it up and do not want to admit it! The fact is blood is classed as an organ! How many people would have a heart or liver or kidney transplant and argue that they do not need antirejection drugs or even expect to survive with out taking them and the needed therapy. The truth is that blood is never actually needed in practically all operations in order to save a life. There are other things that they can do which is actually better for your recovery. Blood is BIG MONEY bussiness. Doctors are BIG MONEY people. The main problem with medical treatment now days is SKY Rocketing prices, according to the news media. Every body has the wool pulled over their eyes.
Bloodbasher: LOL… You remind me of another commenter that was here a while ago. He claimed cancer was just a vitamin deficiency and that it was easily cured, but the cures were covered up by The Man.
And nothing of value was lost
Darwin award
And then let us all laugh at Bloodbasher for a while.
Does this person really think that the doctors would let a fourteen year old child die if there were other treatment options, just because they are “BIG MONEY people”? I know plenty of doctors and I’d say that all in all they’re pretty moral people who want to, you know, help people…
Besides, here in Sweden we have socialized medicine, which means that doctors don’t earn all that much money (sure, they earn much, but no extreme amounts) and they cant’ skin people for what they’ve got. And you know what? They still argue that blood transfusions is a pretty damned good thing, even though there’s no apparant financial gain in it for them. Funny that. Seems to poke a hole in your conspiracy theory, somehow.
Of course.. The Swedish doctors (and the Canadian, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Japanese, et cetera), who don’t have much money to gain from perpetuating such a lie, might all be bribed by the “blood companies” (who consist of “BIG MONEY people”, as we’ve just learned) to use more blood. Never mind that there’s usually a shortage of blood…
I corroborate with the decision of Darwin Award to Bloodbasher. This person needs a good dose of skepticality.
“There are other things that they can do which is actually better for your recovery.” Could you please explain what the heck you are talking about?
At least that’s one less nutter who won’t be having kids…
@macdonald
There is no god. Get over it.
Wow that’s what this fucking idiot deserves for being a religious douchebag. I think natural selection is helping us out here by not letting this brainwashed, uneducated fool reproduce.
Dear Bobathan,
There is no god. Get over yourself you pretentious cunt.
Speaking slightly out of context, anything any of us do is based on what we see from others. The boy could have come from a house hold that for example was strictly vegan and didn’t believe in certain drugs derived from animals, and died because his only chance for survival was in some medicine of the aforementioned type. As humans we are shaped by what is around us. Even at an older age our friends, family, and even enemies help create, reinforce, and solidify our beliefs. No matter how much an individual claims to be above the influence of others, it can not be so, because by trying desperately NOT to conform or be influenced you are in fact still being influenced. I’m not saying that what happened to the boy is wrong or right, I am simply stating that there is more to it than it seems you are giving credit. “brain washing” and being an “uneducated fool” is a grievous thing to say about 1. a 14 year old child and 2. any human being… Please tell me that at 14 you weren’t a mindless zombie either trying desperately to find a way to “fit in” or desperately trying to be “different”
Instead of posting on here and being a dick, be thankful that you weren’t faced with this choice at 14 and that perhaps your parents hadn’t jammed religious beliefs down your throat. God or not… it was his choice (as the author states) and you have read up and now you won’t make the same one!
i am of no faith…and even i could make his same decision
i – to a certain degree – believe that your blood is yours. and if you dint want someone else blood in you…that is fine
i also believe that if u believe that – u shouldnt give blood! coz then ur a hypocrite!
lol
This is a tough one for me without knowing the circumstances of the situation (the story doesn’t load for me, perhaps the link is too old).
I think a 14 year old with a prolonged or terminal illness is certainly capable of saying, “I don’t want any more treatment.” For instance, a child who is on their second or third bought of cancer that faces a grim prognoses may be ready for death.
But I don’t know if I believe a child facing a major illness or traumatic incident for the first time can make that same decision. If the child was in a car accident and was refusing treatment it could be due to unbearable pain. If it’s for religious reasons perhaps they haven’t had time to properly contemplate the strength of their faith versus their desire to live.
Well it’s good to see that natural selection is starting to work it’s course through humanity again. Anytime some religious asshole chooses to die rather than be “unclean” I secretly feel a little better about the human race. Looking throughout history, religion is one of the leading causes of unnatural death, if not THE leading cause. Why should it be any different now?
Peacemonger, I find that your analogy to the vegan being faced with a similar situation seems to suffer from one major flaw. Veganism is simply a lifestyle choice, not a religious one. Vegans are not told that if they eat meat they will suffer an eternity of pain and suffering for their transgression. Even something as grievous as a vegan having a cheeseburger does not carry anywhere near the same weight as a religious nut taking a life-saving blood transfusion. The vegan must simply answer to himself and possibly a small group of friends/family while the gullible religious fool believes he is answering to an ultimate higher authority. Clearly, the two are not comparable in any meaningful sense.
As far as the age issue, I don’t think this should have been left in the hands of the child. However, judging from the story, his guardians would have made the same decision if he had not.
such single digit iqs need to be excised from the gene pool aznyway so perhaps a favour was done to to mankind
The problem is his age. He was 14. In America, we are not allowed to decide anything important legally before 18 (exercise at a gym, smoke cigarettes, look at porn). He should not have been allowed to make the decision. His parents make all of his decisions until 18, that is what they are around for.
And yet another reason religion needs to be abolished.
FUCK EM’
WE HAVE TO PRAY FOR THIS PEOPLE (JEHOVA’S WHITNESS),REMEMBER YOU ARE DEALING WITH A DEMONIC CULT,FOR THEM ANY OTHER RELIGION ARE DEMONIC.THEY BELIVED THEY ARE THE ONLY FOLLOWERS OF GOD.
REMEMBER JESUS GAVE HIS BLOOD FOR US,THEY REFUSES TO BE SAVE BY BLOOD.
Good. Now he won’t live to indoctrinate his would-be child. The good thing about Jehovah’s Witnesses is that they’ll kill themselves off eventually.
The apostol Paul said to obstain from all things sacrificed to idols, fornication, and blood. It has nothing to do with religion. Its the Bible that all Christians claim to follow
i think all of you guys that is so mad about the death of that boy are idiots
i read some of the comments,some of you said that he was to young to decide
great
let me answer you guys
because you guys are so affraid to die dosn’t mean that everybody does.i know most of you view will take the blood but for how long will you keep living?not forever for sure .one day it doesn’t matter how many blood transfusion you take you will die anyway.
2) i know most of you hate the witnesses and this tragedy rage you all.
let me tell you something,dont use your emotion to judge something its true that is a very sad story but remember everyday we all have decision to make .some of you have kid that go to school they make choices too . everyone of you expect their kids to be the best one .now think of all the things that they have to say no too. some kids choose to not being lesbian will you tell them they too young to make that decision.
some kids refuse to sleep with everyone do you guys think they too young to make decision others choose to not smoke weed do you think they too young to make those decision.
most of you said that the kid have been influenced by his aunt great
so how do you influence your own kids
what if your own kid was on trial because he or she refuse to take drug even if its legal will you say he or she is too young to make that decision?
to those of you that take the time to answer those idiot that are mad at the boy im sorry to say you worst than those idiots.
sometimes when you idiots or ignorants talking you just let them be .
my best friend die because her organism reject the blood that they gave her and she died
there is so many way you can survive without a blood transfusion and a bunch of doctor know it but they just gonna propose it because they benefit from it financially.
sometimes people make a big deal about someone who didn’t want to take blood but they dont realize that sometime take blood or not this particular patient will died anyway
im not a jehovah witnesses but instead of being mad at them look at yourself and them look at your lifestyle and theirs look at their kids behavior and yours,look at their famiy and yours ,look at their wifes behavior and yours look at their conduct and yours or any of your friends or family members and write me back on tell me if their is better people than them also you guys if you dont agree with me you have to give me example of some perfect people who never sin because last time i check , the witnesses have good qualities but they also imperfect
so if you yourself are perfect or any of your friends or family members write me back
Two things, real quick.
First, for those of you who keep drawing comparisons to other things, please stop. We’re talking about death. It’s not the same as anything else. He had a choice to make between living and dying. He chose death.
Second, I’d like to reiterate the point a couple of others have made. He was 14. He’s not legally capable of making any other decision about anything else in his life, so why was he able to make a decision about his very life in this case? He couldn’t vote, drive or buy cigarettes, but he could decide if he should live or die? Please.
Sorry, one last thing. He made this decision based solely on indoctrination. You can pretty it up any way you wish, but had he not been raised with these ideals indoctrinated in him since early childhood, he’d still be alive today.
How do you now for sure that he would life if he had blood treatment ? there is no insurance for that.