Medical law & religious freedom
Should Doctors Override a Jehovah's Witness Parent's Refusal of a Child's Blood Transfusion?
LNAT Section B · Founder's essay plan
The essay question
Where children of Jehovah's Witnesses urgently need a blood transfusion but their parents refuse consent on religious grounds, doctors should have no hesitation in overriding parental wishes. Discuss.
The plan
Stance
For — doctors should override parental refusal in such cases.
Definitions
- Jehovah's Witnesses refusal: religious belief that blood transfusion violates biblical commands (Acts 15:28–29).
- Children: legally minors, lacking full decision-making capacity.
- Parental consent: parents normally have authority under the Children Act 1989 to make medical decisions, but not to expose children to preventable death.
- Override: lawful medical intervention, supported by court order if needed.
- No hesitation: urgent/emergency context where delay risks death.
Assumptions under challenge
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