Yup, just a little over 2 weeks. Wish I could've stayed longer.. but oh well. I have my visit visa - yes, now I'm a 'visitor' - in my bag and a second copy in my wallet in case I lose either one.
People do a lot of strange things in the name of religion. And there are always the weird fanatics. Jehovah's witnesses do undergo surgery, albeit without transfusions. This, combined with increasing chances of tainted blood-- and an unsteady supply of blood-- has led to new types of low blood-loss surgeries. If the guy wanted to have it removed, he would. Religion here is a shield against doing what he doesn't want to, for whatever reason.
This issue has also gone hand in hand in the US with the right to refuse medical treatment. At one point in time, doctors would not respect people's right to choose their own medical care. Thanks to legal action brought by Jehovah's witness, people have more freedom in this realm.
Surely, though, the right of patients to refuse medical treatment could've been realized without Jehovah's Witnesses refusing surgery that involves blood transfusion.
It didn't happen in the US organically. One group or another that had an objection to a standard medical practise had to sue, fight a ten year legal battle, take it to the supreme court, and win. Few groups have that motivation and drive other than people who feel their religion is being violated.
After having talked with witnesses and read the literature explaining why they refuse blood donation-- I think they have a very valid point of view. And they learn to accept that if they refuse the donation, it's tantamount to choosing to die. But also, in emergency situations, there are many witnesses who choose to accept the donation (say in a car crash), so they can live. The practical mentality towards this religious teaching is much more even-handed than it first appears to outsiders.
I must say, though, that it's because of people's fussiness in their own treatment that we have fine refinements in medicine and surgery. Fussiness is good!
Yeah we actually had a discussion about that in our medical ethics seminars. The discussion quickly turned to whether children are paretns' property and 'til what age? Honestly though, it must be quite difficult for the parents to do it (and they shouldn't do it!).
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I'm so proud of you eating your green veggies and stuff. Your mum will be so happy. =)
xoxo,
pebs
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My mum's quite pissed off that I eat only veggies, actually, and no meat.
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This issue has also gone hand in hand in the US with the right to refuse medical treatment. At one point in time, doctors would not respect people's right to choose their own medical care. Thanks to legal action brought by Jehovah's witness, people have more freedom in this realm.
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After having talked with witnesses and read the literature explaining why they refuse blood donation-- I think they have a very valid point of view. And they learn to accept that if they refuse the donation, it's tantamount to choosing to die. But also, in emergency situations, there are many witnesses who choose to accept the donation (say in a car crash), so they can live. The practical mentality towards this religious teaching is much more even-handed than it first appears to outsiders.
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Honestly though, it must be quite difficult for the parents to do it (and they shouldn't do it!).
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