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Mother dies after refusing blood | Mother dies after refusing blood |
(20 minutes later) | |
A young mother has died after giving birth to twins, following claims that she had refused a blood transfusion because of her faith. | A young mother has died after giving birth to twins, following claims that she had refused a blood transfusion because of her faith. |
Jehovah's Witness, Emma Gough, 22, from Telford, Shropshire, gave birth on 25 October. | Jehovah's Witness, Emma Gough, 22, from Telford, Shropshire, gave birth on 25 October. |
The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital is refusing to comment on reports that she had refused a blood transfusion. | The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital is refusing to comment on reports that she had refused a blood transfusion. |
Family friend Terry Lovejoy, said: "They are going through an immense amount of turmoil and grief." | |
He added: "We follow the Bible and abstain from blood and I've got no reason to believe that Emma didn't share those views." | |
Patient confidentiality | Patient confidentiality |
Emma Gough's funeral is taking place at the Telford crematorium at 1530 GMT. | Emma Gough's funeral is taking place at the Telford crematorium at 1530 GMT. |
Christine Harris, who is friends with Ms Gough's mother-in-law Sham Gough, said: "The family have told me that a blood transfusion wouldn't have saved Emma." | |
The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital said it did not comment on individual cases because of patient confidentiality. | The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital said it did not comment on individual cases because of patient confidentiality. |
Spokesman Adrian Osborne said "the NHS will always investigate unusual deaths". | Spokesman Adrian Osborne said "the NHS will always investigate unusual deaths". |
An inquest has been opened and adjourned for a date to be fixed. | An inquest has been opened and adjourned for a date to be fixed. |
The twins, a boy and a girl, are healthy and being cared for by their father, Anthony Gough, 24. | The twins, a boy and a girl, are healthy and 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. |
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." |