Courts / Ireland / Report
Court discharges orders allowing blood transfusion to be given to Jehovah's Witness
Summary
The High Court President discharged orders that had allowed a hospital to give a blood transfusion to a Jehovah's Witness patient after the patient's condition improved. The orders were originally made because the patient, whose identity is protected, lacked capacity to consent and no signed Advance Care Directive was available. The hospital had sought the orders after the patient's family would not consent to any blood or blood products for religious reasons, and doctors warned that a transfusion might be needed to save his life. The patient was in intensive care after a serious road traffic accident, on a ventilator and unable to communicate. After recovery of mental capacity and no need for transfusion, the court agreed to strike the orders, while orders preventing media identification remain in force.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Court discharges orders allowing blood transfusion to be given to Jehovah's Witness. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- 2024-04-17 Publication
Why: The court made orders was last month after Mr Justice Tony O'Connor was told the patient may require a blood transfusion in order to save his life. CNI source report
Places mentioned
- High Court
- The hospital
Topics
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