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Jehovah's Witness who died giving birth after refusing blood transfusion told doctor 'I'm dying faithful to my God', inquest hears
Last updated at 14:52pm on 08.04.08A mother who refused a blood transfusion because she was a Jehovah's Witness died hours after giving birth as doctors repeatedly pleaded with her family to overrule her decision.
An inquest heard that Emma Gough, 22, lost more than four pints of blood shortly after delivering healthy twins.
She had signed an "advance directive" during her pregnancy expressly banning a blood transfusion because of her faith.
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Emma Gough, with husband Anthony, lost more than four pints of blood after developing a 'huge' clot shortly after delivering healthy twins
She died after up to five attempts by doctors to persuade the family to allow her to receive blood.
Afterwards her mother told one of the doctors who treated her: "At least she remained faithful to her God."
Yesterday her widower, Anthony, 24, and her family were at the Shrewsbury inquest as a succession of doctors told how a transfusion would have saved her life.
Olufunso Oyesanya, the consultant gynaecologist on duty when Mrs Gough was admitted to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital last October, said she knew about the risk of haemorrhaging after giving birth.
She had had a "long discussion" with colleagues at the hospital earlier in her pregnancy in view of her religion, which believes that the Bible forbids followers from receiving transfusions.
Her position remained unchanged at the hospital, he said.
Mrs Gough, of Telford, Shropshire, gave birth to a healthy boy and girl, but afterwards suffered internal bleeding, a relatively common complication.
The inquest heard that after an operation to try to stem the blood flow, Mrs Gough was taken under sedation to the intensive care unit.
Mr Oyesanya said he spoke to her mother, Glenda Delaney, and the patient's husband, a central heating engineer, who "fully understood" that her "critical" situation could be rescued by a blood transfusion.
Mr Oyesanya said he was part of a "team" of medics and midwives who pleaded with them to reconsider a transfusion, before he made another approach later that night.
But the family, by now supported by a church leader, child slept per day on average at six months, one year, and two years.
Parents were also asked to report the average number of hours their children watched TV.
At the age of three years, 89 children in the study - nine per cent - were overweight.
Those getting less than 12 hours sleep were twice as likely to be overweight at the age of three. Children who slept less still would not consider a transfusion.
After assessing Mrs Gough in intensive care he wrote on her notes: "Needs blood transfusion. Family still refusing blood."
The family were approached a final time and their church leader told Mr Oyesanya they would not consider the matter.
"Somebody told me it was a conscience matter," the doctor told the hearing, adding that he "fully respected" the family's decision.
Mrs Gough died in the early hours of the following morning.
Professor Archibald Malcolm, who carried out a post mortem examination, told the hearing her refusal to sanction a blood transfusion resulted in acute anaemia, where the body has insufficient red blood cells to carry oxygen needed for organ function.
He said the cause of death was "profound anaemia" as a result of haemorrhaging due to complications in giving birth.
Nicholas Reed, a consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology at the hospital, who was not on duty at the time, said: "I think that if we had transfused at an early time, then a young, fit lady like Mrs Gough would have survived and I think all obstetrics staff would agree with that."
The inquest heard that Mrs Gough's family believed there was inadequate monitoring of her as a "high risk patient" not only carrying twins but unable, through her religious beliefs, to have a blood transfusion should the need arise.
Richard Daniel, representing the family, suggested that if she had received "urgent" attention much sooner, it might have negated the need for a blood transfusion.
When asked by Mr Daniel how long it had taken to identify the site of the bleed and repair it, Mr Oyesanya said: "The magic wand here was the blood transfusion. That was the crux of the matter."
Mr Oyesanya said he no longer worked at the hospital and had taken up a position elsewhere.
The inquest continues.
Reader views (6)
Under the eyes of professional medical staff, we, the health care team should have the power under a judge present to overrule the desicion of unlawful ideas based on beliefs and religion which only in representing and putting the client at best interest and in best health. This belief is selfish, crude and wrong. Because of her parents stubborness, a young boy and girl will now grow up without a monther by their stide which on every level is completely unacceptable for in the condition she was brought out on. There is a reason we call them doctors, and nurses. They save our lives, they help us in times of need, and they know how to help us out and what is best for us on many levels as well. If a blood transfusion is what the doctor had said she needed, thats what it had come down too. Blood transfusions are not the first step someone takes when something goes wrong, it is a stepping stone process that is always used where one desicion goes to another, based of patients progress, hemmoraghing rate, concentration of RBS and WBC, and possible side effects and dangerments to the body. We do everything we can, but when selfish people like this come along with religions that have beliefs that are so far fetched it makes you honestly think if it for attention or not, and do they use it to their advantage? I tell you know, her parents say she may have done this under gods commands, but is this really what her children wanted s to grow up without a mother?
- Nicole, Kingston, ON, Canada
The entire Jehovah's Witnesses no blood doctrine is senseless and deadly.
The Bible says nothing about blood transfusions. They didn't exist when the Old Testament and Acts were written. The Bible passages in question (kosher law) have to do with diet. Neither the Jews nor other groups oppose blood transfusions because they don't try to put a spin on something that isn't there. If the Watchtower had not issued this prohibition, no Jehovah's Witness would oppose them on Biblical grounds.
- Danny Haszard, Bangor Maine usa
Were there alternatives...did the medical staff try to find any other solution? Blood as a magic wand...I would never put trust in a medical person who believes in "magic wands" as far as treatment goes. Why are the family villains for supporting her decision? She had a right to her belief and deserved support. If you have a family member who makes a decision to not get a certain treatment or who does things that endanger their health (like smoking) and you don't stop them...knowing it puts their life at risk should you be held accountable if they die from lung cancer?
- Maria, Chicago,IL
This woman was misguided at best and brainwashed at worst. The hospital was not at fault, her beliefs were. She has deprived her children of being raised by their mother. Hopefully, they will not follow her footsteps.
- Yvonne, Doncaster, UK
The cheek of this family is beyond comprehension - Mrs. Gough was a "high risk" patient because of her religion, a risk that she chose for herself. The doctors did everything in their power to reduce that risk by offering her the medical treatment of a blood transfusion, which she and her family repeatedly refused. That transfusion was the 'urgent attention' she needed - why is that difficult to understand?
- Sally R., London, UK
Incomprehensible. If this story is right, then after all the exchanges that took place the family have quite a nerve to hire a lawyer to say the hospital was at fault. I hope the coroner throws the book at them, insofaras he can, and tries to get them to think straight for once. I doubt the twins will derive much comfort from knowing that their mother was 'faithful to her god'.
- Ben, Brussels, Belgium
