This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/shropshire/7078455.stm
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Mother dies after refusing blood | Mother dies after refusing blood |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A young mother died after giving birth to twins because her Jehovah's Witness faith prevented her from accepting a blood transfusion, it has emerged. | |
| Emma Gough, 22, from Telford, Shropshire, gave birth at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital on 25 October. | Emma Gough, 22, from Telford, Shropshire, gave birth at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital on 25 October. |
| Just hours later, complications set in - but because of Mrs Gough's faith, doctors were powerless to save her. | Just hours later, complications set in - but because of Mrs Gough's faith, doctors were powerless to save her. |
| Terry Lovejoy, spokesman for Jehovah's Witnesses in Telford, said: "We share the family's very real grief." | Terry Lovejoy, spokesman for Jehovah's Witnesses in Telford, said: "We share the family's very real grief." |
| 'Risk of death' | 'Risk of death' |
| Mr Lovejoy, who is in contact with the family, said he didn't want to comment further until the full facts had emerged and a hospital review had taken place. | Mr Lovejoy, who is in contact with the family, said he didn't want to comment further until the full facts had emerged and a hospital review had taken place. |
| The twins, who are healthy, are being cared for by their father, Anthony Gough, 24. | The twins, who are healthy, are being cared for by their father, Anthony Gough, 24. |
| Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusions because they believe that God has forbidden it in the Bible. They believe that accepting a blood transfusion is a sin. | Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusions because they believe that God has forbidden it in the Bible. They believe that accepting a blood transfusion is a sin. |
| Mr Lovejoy said: "We follow the Bible and abstain from blood and I've no reason to believe Emma felt any differently." | Mr Lovejoy said: "We follow the Bible and abstain from blood and I've no reason to believe Emma felt any differently." |
| Head of Science and Ethics at the British Medical Association, Dr Vivienne Nathanson, said: "If somebody believes that having blood will excommunicate them from their religious beliefs, then they will often say no and accept the risk of death." | Head of Science and Ethics at the British Medical Association, Dr Vivienne Nathanson, said: "If somebody believes that having blood will excommunicate them from their religious beliefs, then they will often say no and accept the risk of death." |