Mother dies after refusing blood transfusion
Pastor Dale Morgan
Mother dies after refusing blood transfusion*
By Nick Britten
Last Updated: 7:19pm GMT 05/11/2007
A Jehovah’s witness died shortly after giving birth to twins because her
faith prevented her from having a blood transfusion.
Emma Gough, 22, began haemorrhaging but because her beliefs did not
allow her to receive blood she slipped into unconsciousness and died.
As she suffered severe blood loss and her life ebbed away, medical staff
urged her husband, Anthony, and her parents, all of whom follow the same
faith, to overrule her decision and allow a transfusion which could have
saved her, but they refused.
She gave birth naturally and all appeared well as she cuddled her baby
son and daughter, but she suddenly began to haemorrhage. Her condition
was complicated by the fact she was anaemic.
Mrs Gough signed a form prior to giving birth making it clear she should
not be given blood in the event of an emergency, which also confirmed
she understood the risks of her decision.
But it is understood her family were unhappy with the hospital because
they felt Mrs Gough should have been given a Caesarean section but was
left to give birth naturally.
Mr Gough, 24, a central heating engineer who has been left to bring up
the children, said: "We are coping the best we can. There will be an
inquest and issues will arise from that."
Mrs Gough, who died on October 25th, was cremated at Telford Crematorium
on Monday.
She and Mr Gough, who married in Barbados in December 2005, were devout
Jehovah’s witnesses, as were their families, and they all worshipped in
Telford, attending the Kingdom Hill halls.
Peter Welch, who was the couple’s best man, said: "Everyone is
devastated by what has happened. We can’t believe she died after
childbirth in this day and age, with all the technology there is.
"What makes it even more sad is Emma had time to hold and start to bond
with her twins before complications set in."
The couple, who lived in Dawley, Telford, have been together since they
were teenagers and friends said Mrs Gough, who worked at the town
centre’s Next, was "ecstatic" to be having twins.
Mrs Gough always dreamed of a Caribbean wedding and Mr Gough organised
it as a surprise, the couple marrying in the grounds of the Tamarind
Grove Hotel in front of 30 family members and friends.
Jehovah’s witnesses insist that passages from the Bible ban them from
taking blood. The collection, storage and transfusion of blood are all
forbidden.
A member of the Kingdom Hill congregation in Telford, Shrops, who asked
not to be named, said: "The basis of the faith is that we follow
commands from the scriptures and it is a scriptural command to abstain
from blood.
"It is one of a number of things contained in the Scriptures about
things you can and cannot do. It is, of course, up to the individual to
decide how strongly to follow these requirements. I accept that the
faith will receive criticism over this. Some of our beliefs do attract
criticism."
He denied Mrs Gough was being selfish by putting her own beliefs before
the needs of her children, adding: "Children are always a priority. We
respect life. We seek the best medical attention we can get but the
requirement we have is that we do so without receiving blood. It is very
sad and there is a lot of support for the family."
However, Mrs Gough and her family faced criticism from neighbours of Mr
Gough’s parents in the Sutton Hill area of Telford.
One said: 'We were really shocked when we heard. A friend of the family
came around and told us what had happened. They said Emma had suffered a
haemorrhage after giving birth to the twins naturally and had refused a
transfusion. They couldn’t understand why she hadn’t been given a
Caesarean."
Another said: "I think it’s disgusting. How could she make that decision
not to have a transfusion and leave those babies without a mother? "It’s
terrible, I don’t care what your beliefs are, to refuse treatment like
that is awful."
Mr Gough’s father, Ian Gough, who runs a window tinting business, said:
"We are awaiting a report from the coroner. We don’t wish to comment at
this stage."
Mrs Gough’s parents, Jim and Glenda, refused to comment.
A spokesman for the Shrewsbury coroner said that the cause of death was
recorded initially as complications of profound anaemia due to
haemorrhage and complications of twin delivery. An inquest has been
opened and adjourned and investigations are continuing.
Tom Taylor, Chief Executive of The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS
Trust said: "We have offered our deepest condolences to the family, and
our thoughts are with them at this difficult time."