TRANSFUSION OF BLOOD

Press, Volume C, Issue 29554, 1 July 1961, Page 9

TRANSFUSION OF BLOOD

Provisions Of Bill (From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, June 29. A proposal for legislation to give doctors power to administer blood transfusions to minors in spite of the religious objections of their parents or guardians has been approved by the Cabinet and has been passed to the law drafting office. It is expected to appear as a bill before Parliament later this session, The bill, it is understood will give a medical practitioner the right, where it is a matter of life or death, to proceed with a transfusion against the wishes of s parent. Safeguards There will be safeguards to make sure that this right will apply only in emergency. but it is the view of the Cabinet that no adult should be in a position to make a decision on nonmedical grounds which could endanger the life of a minor. The legislation arises from several cases in New Zealand and in Australia, where members of a certain religious sect have refused to permit transfusions tc minors. In one case in Australia. the doctors took the law into their own hands and were upheld by subsequent legislation.