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BIG - USA Today, JW women 6X more likely to die from Blood Loss during childbirth

skeeter1

BIG - USA Today, JW women 6X more likely to die from Blood Loss during childbirth posted Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:24:00 GMT (6/16/2009)

Post 2062 of 2329
Since 12/3/2005

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-06-15-jehovahs-witness_N.htm

Study: Jehovah's Witnesses more likely to die in childbirth

Posted 21h 48m ago | Comments78 | Recommend21

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FAITH & REASON

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By Daniel Burke, Religion News Service

Pregnant women who are Jehovah's Witnesses are six times more likely to die during childbirth and three times more likely to have serious complications than the general population, according to a new study by Dutch researchers.

All of the cases of death examined by the researchers were caused by major obstetric hemorrhage, according to the study, and the refusal of red blood transfusions by the women was found to be "an important factor" in the deaths.

"Jehovah's Witnesses, by refusing blood transfusion, expose themselves to a serious risk during childbirth," said Jos van Roosmalen, supervisor of the research and chairman of the National Maternal Mortality Committee of the Netherlands Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Most Jehovah's Witnesses refuse many types of blood transfusions, believing that the Bible warns against ingesting blood. Individual members, though, may differ from church teachings or use other medical means, such as receiving their own blood back in transfusions.

The Dutch report, published this month in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, examined all cases of maternal mortality in the Netherlands between 1983 and 2006, and all cases of serious maternal morbidity between 2004 and 2006.

"Any hospital treating Jehovah's Witnesses should have a clear protocol for obstetric care, and ensure training for staff in the management of obstetric hemorrhage in these patients," said Philip Steer, BJOG's editor-in-chief.

The Jehovah's Witnesses' U.S. office did not respond immediately for a request for comment.

skeeter1

Re: BIG - USA Today, JW women 6X more likely to die from Blood Loss during childbirth posted Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:27:00 GMT (6/16/2009)

Post 2063 of 2329
Since 12/3/2005

The WTS puts forth that you CAN live without blood, that bloodless surgery is THE answer. NOT!

Again, it's the women and black people who suffer the most from the blood ban. Women because of child birth, hysterectomies, and female issues...and black people because of sickle cell anemia. Then, it's usually the kids with luekemia or bone cancers, and people facing trauma, and major surgeries.

daniel-p

Re: BIG - USA Today, JW women 6X more likely to die from Blood Loss during childbirth posted Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:30:00 GMT (6/16/2009)

Post 3246 of 4239
Since 10/22/2005

This is good coverage because many JWs convince themselves that bloodless medicine is just as safe. This shows that no, if you need blood badly there is no substitute.

skeeter1

Re: BIG - USA Today, JW women 6X more likely to die from Blood Loss during childbirth posted Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:38:00 GMT (6/16/2009)

Post 2064 of 2329
Since 12/3/2005

Daniel, you are right...

...but, the WTS will say that it's the woman's fault they are dying as they are not contacting the HLC elder to prepare for childbirth. The WTS always has a way to blame Eve.

Skeeter

JimmyPage

Re: BIG - USA Today, JW women 6X more likely to die from Blood Loss during childbirth posted Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:56:00 GMT (6/16/2009)

Post 1544 of 1973
Since 3/9/2008

Bookmarked.

leftbelow

Re: BIG - USA Today, JW women 6X more likely to die from Blood Loss during childbirth posted Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:08:00 GMT (6/16/2009)

Post 220 of 337
Since 12/16/2005

The first thing I had my wife do when she opened her eyes is talk to her OBGYN about this. I am so glad she did this before we found out she was pregnant.

drew sagan

Re: BIG - USA Today, JW women 6X more likely to die from Blood Loss during childbirth posted Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:15:00 GMT (6/16/2009)

Post 4004 of 4210
Since 8/16/2005

Women because of child birth, hysterectomies, and female issues...and black people because of sickle cell anemia. Then, it's usually the kids with luekemia or bone cancers, and people facing trauma, and major surgeries.

A major point! If this ban somehow effected middle aged white males it would have been tossed out long ago!

slimboyfat

Re: BIG - USA Today, JW women 6X more likely to die from Blood Loss during childbirth posted Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:37:00 GMT (6/16/2009)

Afghanistan

Post 3256 of 3503
Since 11/24/2004

This is very interesting news. If hope pregnant Jehovah's Witnesses hear about this so they can at least make an informed decision in light of the risks. There is little chance the findings will make their way into the Awake! magazine though I suppose.

purplesofa

Re: BIG - USA Today, JW women 6X more likely to die from Blood Loss during childbirth posted Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:40:00 GMT (6/16/2009)

Arkansas

Post 9483 of 10764
Since 2/19/2005

hey skeeter,

thanks for posting,

purps

skeeter1

Re: BIG - USA Today, JW women 6X more likely to die from Blood Loss during childbirth posted Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:55:00 GMT (6/17/2009)

Post 2065 of 2329
Since 12/3/2005

A better "informed", but still coerced decision.

shamus100

Re: BIG - USA Today, JW women 6X more likely to die from Blood Loss during childbirth posted Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:02:00 GMT (6/17/2009)

Post 2294 of 3768
Since 2/10/2008

For crying out loud, skeeter,

This is nothing more than satan mascarading as doctors giving mis-information. It's plain to see!

skeeter1

Re: BIG - USA Today, JW women 6X more likely to die from Blood Loss during childbirth posted Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:47:00 GMT (6/17/2009)

Post 2066 of 2329
Since 12/3/2005

Shamus, LOL.

rebel8

Re: BIG - USA Today, JW women 6X more likely to die from Blood Loss during childbirth posted Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:33:00 GMT (6/17/2009)

New York

Post 6562 of 7105
Since 1/13/2005

Women because of child birth, hysterectomies, and female issues...and black people because of sickle cell anemia. Then, it's usually the kids with luekemia or bone cancers, and people facing trauma, and major surgeries.
A major point! If this ban somehow effected middle aged white males it would have been tossed out long ago!

Very true. As a Hemophiliac I almost bled to death many times due to menstruation. My periods lasted 3 out of 4 weeks each month and were often too heavy to permit me to leave the bathroom. Heavy bleeding causes much pain as well, and sometimes I nearly passed out from the pain.

I fainted due to blood loss. Once I had to be propped up in bed with pillows to breathe, because I didn't have enough red blood cells to carry the oxygen to my vital organs. I had to be carried to the bathroom.

I was reminded by "The Friends" that I was being punished because of Eve's sin, I was inherently sinful and deserving of this punishment. Add to that their near psychotic beliefs about Hemophiliacs. (See "Hemophiliacs are Vampires" thread I started a few years ago.)

I was not allowed prevention measures--birth control pills or minor surgery--bcp because that would "make me have sex" and surgery because they mistakenly believed it would be an opportunity for transfusions to be forced on me.

I took iron supplements for chronic anemia for years. The chronic anemia was caused by preventable blood loss. I'm told I have some organ damage from the supplements.

I missed tons of school and spent way too much of my childhood in the bathroom or in bed.

All of this was totally unnecessary.

It was truly horrific being a girl in the borg. It is so easy for those sociopathic bastards in Crooklyn to cook up random rules that don't affect them personally.

At this point I firmly believe the blood policy exists only because they don't want to admit they were wrong.

Maybe if I tell this story enough times, it will help someone, or maybe a decision-maker in Crooklyn will listen up.

insearchoftruth

Re: BIG - USA Today, JW women 6X more likely to die from Blood Loss during childbirth posted Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:05:00 GMT (6/17/2009)

Virginia

Post 1149 of 1564
Since 2/9/2006

bttt, may need to pick up a USA Today.....

skeeter1

Re: BIG - USA Today, JW women 6X more likely to die from Blood Loss during childbirth posted Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:02:00 GMT (6/18/2009)

Post 2070 of 2329
Since 12/3/2005

btt, for those who missed it.

Numbers don't lie.

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