Court approves blood transfusion

Hospital administrators brought case to the High Court

A judge has given the go ahead for doctors to give a blood transfusion to a 15-year-old Jehovah's Witness girl if she requires it during a life-saving operation.

The girl, whose identity is being kept secret, had refused to give consent for the transfusion if it became necessary during a kidney transplant operation.

Her father, also a Jehovah's Witness, would not give his consent either.

In the High Court in Belfast on Friday morning, Mr Justice Higgins said it was in the child's best interest to undergo a transplant operation and that the surgical team should be able to administer a blood transfusion if this was necessary - but he hoped it would not be.

He described the child as a brave and resilient young lady whose firmly held beliefs should be respected.

The girl suffers from kidney failure and could die if she does not have a kidney transplant operation.

But her religion does not allow its members to receive blood and doctors said they would not operate unless they have permission to give a transfusion if it becomes necessary during the operation.

At a private hearing on Monday, hospital administrators sought court approval for a transfusion if it was necessary to save her life.

The girl's mother, who is not a Jehovah's Witness, is separated from her father and lives in England. She is understood to have agreed to the operation going ahead.

At present the girl receives dialysis treatment six nights a week for nine hours at a time.