Boy who refused treatment on religious grounds dies

[Rheias]

SEATTLE, Washington (AP) -- A few hours after a judge ruled that a 14-year-old Jehovah's Witness sick with leukemia had the right to refuse a blood transfusion that might have helped him, the boy died, a newspaper reported.

Dennis Lindberg died Wednesday night at Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, his father, Dennis Lindberg Sr., told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Hospital spokeswoman Teri Thomas said she could not confirm or deny anything about the case at the request of the boy's legal guardian, his aunt Dianna Mincin.

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[Chjoodge]

"I don't believe Dennis' decision is the result of any coercion. He is mature and understands the consequences of his decision," the judge said during the hearing.

Well, this is his decision to make. Some people would rather choose death over being crippled, and if accepting someone else's blood is so bad for that boy, it's his choice.

The sad thing is that he even looks at the transfusion that way. But then again, it's his right to do so.

I'm sad for his death nonetheless.

 

[The Helper]

For JW's this is no trivial issue and most know they have a real chance of dying if they need a transfusion.

 

[AceHart]

> this is his decision to make

He's 14, what are you talking about?

He's been killed by his parents with some weird "God wants it that way" "excuse".
And I'm sure they are even proud of their indoctrination success.

 

[TheDamien]

It is pointless to talk about "decisions" if he was raised into that faith from birth.

 

[Chjoodge]

> this is his decision to make
He's 14, what are you talking about?

Yes, that was my first reaction too and that's why I quoted the article at the beginning of my post. That was what the judge was deciding - whether the boy is making his own decision or not.

Also, the father, apparently not JW, tried to talk the boy out of it, but in the end, he agreed. That makes me think that it was really the boy's decision and he was firm in it.

Cases where parents let their kid die in this way while the kid has nothing to say are different. Those are pretty close to murders, but it's more difficult than just that.

It is pointless to talk about "decisions" if he was raised into that faith from birth.

True. But you and me have build our opinions mostly on what were we raised at, too, this is just how things work. It's sad that the boy didn't live long enough to maybe doubt his faith, that's for sure.

To make things clear, I don't like those parents for how they have raised the boy, at all. I don't generally like JWs, because of these cases and because of many others. I'm just saying it's they right to do what they want and if they like to kill themselves, I don't approve, I don't like to hear about it, but I wouldn't stop them.

Once again, I'm talking about people making the decision for themselves, not parents letting their kid die. That is against the law and should be treated so.

 

[JuffoWup]

And other victim of religious brainwashing.
See this is the reason I claim that kids should be taken away from their
piece of shit work parents, for at least until they are old and educated enough
to decide themselves what to believe in.

 

[Demonwrath]

1. Should his parents have let him do this?
No. Under no grounds should a parents allow their child to make decisions that will ultimately end their childs life. In the words of Theoden, "No parent should have to bury their child."

2. Was the boy right in choosing this?
Personally I believe that the kid did and did not make a bad decision.
On one hand, yes he should have taken the treatment and lived, even though he would have been hating himself for the rest of his life because he would believe he would now be going to hell when he's gone...
But on the other hand, in this day and age there are too few people who would stand with their beliefs when they face death. I give regards to the kid for he had courage to stick with what he believed, no matter what. If you were to stick a gun in my face and say, "Believe in God or die!" (I am atheist) I would gladly pull the trigger for you.

 

[esb]

Why do people worry so much about the decision to not recieve a blood transfusion?

It's the person's own personal decision. No matter what age. Those where their beliefs, and just like you think you are 100% correct, they know the same.

 

[sqrage]

>>Why do people worry so much about the decision to not recieve a blood transfusion?

Because he didn't make the decision. Years of telling him what "god" wants and what "god" needs made his decision for him.

 

[Demonwrath]

>Because he didn't make the decision. Years of telling him what "god" wants and what "god" needs made his decision for him.

I disagree.

As much as I don't believe in God, I also do not believe in blaming beliefs in the deity for thigns such as this. As I said before, this boy grew up with his religion surrounding him, I grew until into Catholicism, and I have, thankfully, questioned, doubted, and left my religion. If I had been him and given the option of dying and going by what I have learnt through religion, or taking the transfusion and going against everything I had learned my whole life, well my survival instinct would have kicked in and I would have forsaken the beliefs I grew up in.

This boy was strong willed and knew what he was doing. I would not lay my lfie down for god, but in the same aspect I would lay it down for any I truely care about. If my best friend, or any relative required for me to die so they could live, I would gladly turn the blade on myself. For him, he just had God in the equation.

 

[sqrage]

>>If my best friend, or any relative required for me to die so they could live, I would gladly turn the blade on myself.

Unlike him though, you clearly stated that you don't believe in god nor religion.

If god was apointed as your savior and promised you eternal happiness if you made the right choice, and you truly believed that this was the truth, I'm sure you'd make the same choice.

Trust me, some people out there are closely enough tide to their religion to make a decision like that, though we will never really know if that was the case with this kid.

 

[ArmedCitizen]

Brainwashing someone can have dramatic effects on their mental stability, and their will.

He might think he was being independent with his decision and that he formed the 'beliefs' he has on his own but the truth is, he didn't. Unless you grow up in an environment which allows free thinking and does not try to preach to you, you are going to 'believe' what your parents do.

For example, I had a friend at school who was strongly against gays. I was debating it with him and it was clear he had no idea why he was. He couldn't back anything he said with a logical reason that they are lesser than people who love the opposite sex. Yet he was fighting that they were with a passion I didn't have for it.

After he was calm I asked what his mom and dad thought about it and he gave the exact same explanation he was using against me. He didn't know he was brainwashed, but he was.