Jehovah's Witnesses
This lot make my blood fucking boil. For years my Mum worked in a childrens intensive care ward and there were a number of occasions where JW parents, because of their ridiculous beliefs, actually allowed their kids to die rather than give their consent to a blood transfusion. I'm astonished that this is actually legal, but there you go. Whenever one of these mentalists turn up at my door with their kids in tow I ask the kids if they know what would happen to them if they were in the situation where they'd need a blood transfusion. They usually look a bit puzzled so I suggest they ask their parents later. That'll be a nice uncomfortable dinner time then. Crazy bastards.
On a lighter note, some other responses I've given include:
"Oh no, sorry, I believe in The Teapot".
"The teapot?" they say
"Yes" I reply, "The massive teapot that circles the earth and tells me what to think about everything. I was told to believe in it as a child and I'm too fucking stupid to question it."

or

"Blimey - if you lot had come round last week you'd have brainwashed me just in time, but I'm a muslim now - sorry!"

Length? About 1 minute on the doorstep if you do it right.
( BobbyParadise, Tue 24 Mar 2009, 13:41, 6 replies)

That must have been a while ago now.
Nowadays the hospital simply make the children a ward of court to do a blood transfusion.
(powervator and NONE SHALL PASS, Tue 24 Mar 2009, 13:52, closed)

Not automatically.
The courts are fairly reluctant to interfere in family life. There is a history of courts overruling parental refusals, but it is not a given that that's what'll happen.
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Tue 24 Mar 2009, 13:58, closed)

Hmm
There's also a (hidden) history of medics giving transfusions when no one's looking anyway. Only problem with that is that the Jehovah's Witnesses then go on to use their case as proof that transfusions aren't necessary, and that miracles happen if you pray hard enough...


*sigh*
(Beer Elf Thought this was like a campfire, anyhow, on, Tue 24 Mar 2009, 14:03, closed)

Oh agreed
It's by no means automatic, however if the child's life is in the balance and the hospital administrators have enough time then it happens more often than not.
(powervator and NONE SHALL PASS, Tue 24 Mar 2009, 15:06, closed)

What I learned on a uni medical ethics course
was that as most JW parents value their kids above their religion, hospitals have a procedure to cover transfusions.

The parents make a token protest against the transfusion but it's done anyway, as the hospital can tell them that the ward of court application is already underway.

The hospital's done its job, the child is saved, the JW parents are off the hook and everyone's happy.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Wed 25 Mar 2009, 8:10, closed)

Blood Transfusions
The JW's [famous for misinterpreting the King James Bible, they called their version of it the New World "translation"] object to Blood Transfusions due to the following line from Leviticus 17: "Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh."

I'd love to see a JW enjoying a slice of Black Pudding....
(caescarna Hell's Roomba, Tue 24 Mar 2009, 15:26, closed)