TRANSFUSION OF BLOOD

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29272, 2 August 1960, Page 7

TRANSFUSION OF BLOOD

Move For Compulsion Criticised (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 1. “Hospital boards, doctors, and solicitors are lowering their high ethical standards by persistently recommending compulsory blood transfusion legislation for children,” said Mr B. B. Mason, presiding minister of the Watch Tower Bible Tract Society in New Zealand, in a statement last night. “They are pressing for an unhumanitarian instrument of violence when they suggest that laws be enacted that will permit anyone to disregard the Christian conscience of the child’s parents. “Compulsion in religious matters is contrary to British justice and democratic principles, and certainly has no righful place in New Zealand law. Especially is that true when the proposed legislation wrongfully discriminates against only one small section of the community. “The solution to the problem is not compulsory legislation but tolerance and respect,” Mr Mason said. “It would be criminal for the State or doctor to ignore wilfully the wishes of the Witness and force blood therapy on a child who is legally under the care of its parents. “Since Jehova’s Witnesses are willing to accept any of several effective blood substitutes; the refusal of a transfusion does not constitute neglect. “A charge or conviction of neglect would be a perversion of law and the facts,” Mr Mason said.