Ashya King with his mother, Naghemeh King, before he was taken
Ashya King with his mother, Naghemeh King, before he was taken

The life of a five-year-old boy with a brain tumor hangs in the balance after his Jehovah’s Witness parents took him from his hospital bed and fled the country with him.

Ashya King was receiving “constant medical care within the UK due to recent surgery and ongoing medical issues” according to Hampshire police.

But his parents, Brett King, 51, and Naghemeh King, 45, removed him from his ward on Thursday afternoon and are now on the run – believed to be headed to Spain.

“The need to find Ashya is now desperate. It is really important that we find him and ensure he receives medical attention at the earliest opportunity,” Assistant Chief Constable Chris Shead has told Sky News.

Ashya is likely to be in a wheelchair or buggy, cannot communicate verbally and is immobile, according to police.

Though it is still too early to know for certain what Ashya’s parents’ motives are, it is worth noting that the issue of Jehovah’s Witness parents imposing their religious beliefs on children when it comes to medical treatment is a growing concern internationally.

Increasingly the legal system is being called upon to grant doctors the powers needed to give Witness children life-saving medical treatment that would otherwise be deprived them by their parents due to Watchtower teachings about blood, which have only been in place since 1945.

Ashya (left) and his parents Naghemeh (center) and Brett (right)
Ashya (left) and his parents Naghemeh (center) and Brett (right)

 

It would appear the Jehovah’s Witness community is already closing ranks in defense of the Kings’ actions.

One post on the Hampshire Constabulary’s Facebook page read: “This is my mother’s friend, she has run away in desperation because they cannot accept that there is nothing that can be done for their son and want to look for help abroad. Please don’t judge, they are a very sweet loving family and I can only believe they are doing this because they want to help their son.”

If you know the King family or have information as to their whereabouts, please contact Hampshire Constabulary on 101, quoting “Operation Aquilion” (the number is 0044 1962 841534 if calling from outside the UK).

***UPDATE***

Since this article was published, Ashya and his family have been found in Spain. It has emerged that, thankfully, refusal of blood was likely NOT a factor in Brett and Neghemeh absconding with their son. In the interests of fairness, I am posting the King family’s video where they explain their motivations themselves. Please read this update to the story.

 

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122 thoughts on “Jehovah’s Witness parents on the run after grabbing child from hospital

  • August 30, 2014 at 2:38 am
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    To better understand (and not to charge) the individuals, it may help to know that physical intervention in the hospital has been taught and orchestrated by the Watch Tower Society. Disclaimer: I hope that this is currently not the case and I am making no assumptions, just for your information:

    Our Kingdom Ministry, September 1992, p. 5-6:

    “Safeguarding Your Children From Misuse of Blood”

    “When there is a crisis, elders may consider it advisable to arrange a 24-hour watch at the hospital, preferably by an elder with the patient’s parent or another close family ember. Blood transfusions often are given when all relatives and friends have gone home for the night. … What if a doctor or a hospital intends to get a court order to transfuse your child? Is this the time to quit, assuming that there is nothing more that can be done? By no means! It may still be possible to avert a transfusion. Preparation for such a possibility should be made ahead of time. … But it should be made clear to all concerned that you, as parents, feel an obligation to continue to do all that you can to avoid a transfusion. This is your God-given esponsibility. It is not transferable.”

  • August 30, 2014 at 2:54 am
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    I will bet there were elders watching their every move and secretly, the parents probably wished they could have let the doctors help their little boy but the elders are the ones that refused to let them. The parents have to be going through hell right now and that little boy will probably die. Nobody should have to go through this. The Watchtower has so much blood on it’s hands. They were never appointed by God and have no right to make such decisions like that, especially for a little 5 year old boy who has no choice in the matter. The Watchtower is despicable!!!

  • August 30, 2014 at 3:00 am
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    @anonymous August 30, 2014 at 2:54 am:

    Leaving aside the current case (in which’s light it would not be ethical to speculate), your idea in general is a very interesting thought excercise. Somewhere in world right now there may be some JW parents/relatives considering to remove their family member from a hospital to get treatment elsewhere, without the knowledge of the elders. Now, let me just let this thought sink in for a while…

  • August 30, 2014 at 3:51 am
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    It must be observed, that we have to be more prudent in commenting such cases..
    The Police said that there was NO EVIDENCE, in SUGGESTING, that this has to do with their Religious beliefs.
    Isn’t it better and wiser to wait, until they find the parents and the child, and then we will hear what their motivations where, before whe judge a Religion?
    I hope Cedar that you be balanced in the future in commenting such cases..
    And another thing: you are not a psychiatrist, there are a lot of factors involved in such cases.. Religion Could not be the dominating factor when parents make such rare decisions..
    Thus think twice when you comment such cases.

    Greetings from one who has study psychology…

    • August 30, 2014 at 4:01 am
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      Greetings, person who studies psychology. Welcome to JWsurvey.

      I am fully aware of (and sensitive to) the lack of medical information on this story. You will note that I have made no remarks directly linking this story with the blood issue, and I will be happy to remove ANY reference to the blood issue on this article and publish a retraction if it transpires that the parents’ actions were not religiously motivated.

      Contrary to what you are saying (unless you can provide evidence) the police are thus far silent on religious motivations or lack thereof. The quote you allude to (as far as I can tell) is from Watchtower, who have said: “There is absolutely no indication, as far as we are aware, that their decision is in any way motivated by any religious convictions.” Readers of this website will be well aware that almost any statement made by the Watchtower to the media is to be taken with a bucketful of salt.

      If you have information to back up your claims, please furnish me with it and I will amend the article accordingly. Unlike Watchtower, I am not above correcting information found to be in error and owning up to mistakes.

      • August 30, 2014 at 5:20 am
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        Hey Cedars,
        The point here is not to win a contest: you are right, and I am wrong..
        The main issue here is: can you have a strong evidence that this case has to do with Religions beliefs? Or are other psychological factors playing a factor?
        In such cases the Police keep her silence, dear Cedars, because the don’t know their motivations..and in a lot of cases a psychiatrical rapport wil bring a result, and a lot of clarifications..
        About the Bethel Branch: I think that every good multinational, or religion would make a statement like this..
        And in fact they are nor responsible for the rare decisions individuals take..
        Are you responsible for the decisions the members of these website take in their personal lives? An example: a Person who is mental unstable read your website, you receive a lot of good comments of him, and become an active member. But after a couple of months he takes an overdose of pills and they could do nothing to save him..
        Would it be rationally, and wise to conclude that your website played a role in his suicide? And hold you responsable for his action? Of course that would be not wise isn’t it? Do you understand the point involved?
        In your article you are indeed not mentioning the blood issue, but you are quick in alluding and mentioning that they are Jehovah Witnesses, and that their religion beliefs can play a role on this case!.
        But this is your website, and I hope that the readers will use their good judgement, when we will hear the final resolt of this case..
        I from my part, wil be neutral, an observer, and be there for every person, without judging nobody..this is the way I think to help somebody on a psychological way..
        Greetings from one who has study psychology …

  • August 30, 2014 at 4:02 am
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    Interesting statement from the London Branch.

    They confirm the family are JW’s then say ‘HOWEVER… this matter has nothing to do with us, the organisation, our beliefs, etc…’

    No mention of the Branch urging the family to contact them/appropriate authorities for assistance.

    It’s bad PR, so the Branch want nothing to do with it.

  • August 30, 2014 at 4:05 am
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    Great point. Could it be that the family is in fact escaping the liason committee so they can acquire surgery that may require blood and nobody has considered this?

    • August 30, 2014 at 4:15 am
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      Welcome Craig. I’m not sure you’re aware of the distances involved. Driving from Southampton to Marbella is like driving from Seattle to San Diego, but entering two new countries along the way (France and Spain). All the while the child is in dire need of medical attention and could die at any moment. We have legal systems in the UK that would protect the child’s interests by taking the decision out of the parents’ hands – thus taking the HLC out of the equation. I’m afraid your theory doesn’t hold much water.

  • August 30, 2014 at 4:18 am
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    I don’t know what their motivation is, but I’m sure they love their child and believe that they are doing the right thing. Maybe they are trying to protect Ashya from hack doctors that promised one thing and delivered another. Maybe the doctors gave a promising outlook for the surgery and ended up causing more problems than they solved. Who knows? As a parent, I know that the basis of what they are doing is out of love for their child and doing what’s best for Ashya. If they are seeking better medical care for the boy than what they had in the UK, more power to them.

    • August 30, 2014 at 4:27 am
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      Suddenly the child’s doctors are “hack doctors that promised one thing and delivered another” and the parents, who have ripped their child from its hospital bed and medical apparatus, thus endangering its life, are “doing what’s best for Ashya?”

      Astonishing.

      • August 30, 2014 at 4:40 am
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        I prefaced my speculation with ‘maybe’, in case you hadn’t noticed. My opinion is based on my own personal experiences with doctors and cancer treatment and being parent. I guess it’s uncomfortable for you to hear opposing opinions. Perhaps the truth is that the parents ‘rescued’ their child and that they have hired a private caregiver, but it seems that you can’t even entertain such a thought, perhaps because of your bias against Jehovah’s Witnesses.

        • August 30, 2014 at 4:49 am
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          I harbor no bias against Jehovah’s Witnesses. Most of my relatives are Witnesses and I am deeply concerned for their welfare, which is why I do my best to aid their eventual awakening to mental freedom. I do, however, have a major gripe with an organization that decided in 1945 that a cool way to be “different” would be to indoctrinate its followers to refuse certain medical treatments. Just because you are under the spell of this organization, and prepared to defend it to the point of demonizing the entire medical profession, don’t expect everyone else to embrace your delusion.

          • August 30, 2014 at 5:08 am
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            You make wrong assumptions about me, Cedars. I am awake, I just didn’t throw the baby out with the bath water, if you know what I mean. I don’t demonize the entire medical profession, there are good doctors, but intuition tells me that loving parents wouldn’t take their child away from a hospital that was giving excellent care. My intuition tells me that the parents are seeking to get their child into a better situation by finding medical care elsewhere. When you can interview the family and find out exactly what’s going on, please let us know. In the meantime, I’m going to think positive thoughts and pray that this family has a good outcome for their little boy.

          • August 30, 2014 at 5:15 am
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            Knowing the Watchtower is not God’s organization doesn’t make you awake. And your “intuition,” whether based on personal experience or not, is no basis for reaching the conclusion that this is all the fault of the doctors. Taking a terminally ill child from its hospital bed and absconding with it on a 1,300 mile car journey does not offer an improvement to its predicament by any conceivable stretch of the imagination.

          • August 30, 2014 at 6:58 am
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            There you go, putting words in my mouth again. My definition of being awake is not synonymous with yours, but that’s my fault for not being more specific. Anyway, I will agree to disagree with you in regard to Ashya’s situation, and leave it at that. Maybe someday, if you have to walk a mile in his parents’ shoes, you will understand where I’m coming from.

          • August 30, 2014 at 7:02 am
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            I am very grateful that I will never be walking a centimeter in poor Ashya’s parents shoes, because unlike them I am not arrogant and deluded enough to think I know better than qualified medical professionals.

  • August 30, 2014 at 4:59 am
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    Marge,

    I am sorry to read that you have experienced the sadness of having your child sick with cancer. You have my sincere sympathy. My poor Father died of cancer, and I know how horrific it is.

    I do not doubt that the Kings love their little boy deeply. I am sure that taking him away from the hospital must have been a very difficult decision.

    I am aware that medical professionals, like every homo sapien, make mistakes and sometimes do not deliver what they had hoped in terms of outcome from medical procedures. However, to describe Doctors as “hacks” is hardly fair.

    To ignore the fact that Jehovah’s Witnesses are known to place their interpretation of the bible over any other medical consideration would be to ignore a material fact.

    We shall have to hope that little Ashya will find approriate care and we can discover just what prompted this extreme behaviour on the part of the King family.

    Peace be with you

    Excelsior!

  • August 30, 2014 at 5:11 am
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    why just take of surely as JW would want to give a good witness, but they have given no explanation, just leaving the world to speculate on their beliefs, as JW are know for not having blood transfusions, surely this leaves many to wonder.

    The paper says not for religious reasons, well surely the parents should have something to say as to why instead of leaving a can of worms.

    So sad for the child and parents but really why leave without any explanation even to their own religion, surely many are worried about the child and parents. This is really strange.

  • August 30, 2014 at 5:41 am
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    Certain details are not available so we cannot come to any firm conclusion. I hope this child will get the medical treatment he direly needs. If someone is not satisfied with the services of a hospital, there are plenty of legal ways to change, even for JWs. It is very sad that they force the authorities and the police to find them, is it possible that they will face legal consequences after this? I mean, it doesn’t matter what your reasons are, religious or otherwise, can endangering your child lead to a legal case?

  • August 30, 2014 at 5:58 am
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    perhaps there is no blood involved in this case, and perhaps as a parent seeing their child suffer so much they thought they would give him some other sort of treatment.
    I do notice that the watchtower never encouraged anyone to use natural medicines or homeopathic treatments they support traditional medical treatments. anyway,
    I did not know a hospital was a prison, Id think I had a right to leave , or remove my child at my will. My cousin after back surgery, could not afford to be there two nights.
    he felt fine, took the instructions given to him, took the iv needles out got dressed and left.
    its his right.
    in the U.K. people must be more, say, in the know?, more involved in peoples personal lives?. where I live, youd be lucky to get a card in the mail acknowledging you were even IN the hospital. years ago, i had cervical cancer, and endometreosis, went for surgery was in agony for weeks, and only one person from the congregation i was attending, stopped by my home, no one even called, or sent me a card. Im the opposite, I always send out cards the moment I find out anything about someones illness. In fact half the elderly shut ins that i sent cards to on a regular basis are dead, I often think,now who will I write to?

  • August 30, 2014 at 6:40 am
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    Kat,

    The paper is quoting the WTBTS’ spokesperson! The WTBTS have no idea whether the Kings took their child out for religious reasons. However, it is a fact that JWs will refuse medical treatment if it goes against their religious beliefs. Therefore, it is reasonable to include it in any consideration of this case.

    If the Kings, Marge, were concerned that their child was not receiving proper care, they can insist on a second opinion, and there are channels and procedures in place to complain.

    Removing a child from its hospital bed is an extreme move. Even if better care is available on the Continent (which I strongly doubt) why not include the hospital in this decision?

    Chat pal,

    In the UK we do not have to pay for a hospital stay. We are not charged per night. We can recuperate as long as is deemed necessary.

    Enzo,

    Since when have religious beliefs not had psychological effects? We cannot discount a strong religious belief as a contributing factor in this case. Especially when the refusal of certain medical procedures that the general population would find normal is involved?

    It is not certain that religious motivations lie at the heart of this tragic case, but you must agree that it is a strong possibility?

    All of us need to remember that we are discussing a family of human beings, here. We all want what is best for little Ashya and the rest of the King family. We all agree that he needs appropriate medical care.

    Jehovah’s Witnesses are known to refuse certain medical treatments. They are known for pursuing their religious beliefs to the very limit of legality and beyond. These are material facts that any investigator would find pertinent.

    The fact that Hampshire Constabulary have been silent publicly on the potential religious factors does not mean that they are not considering them.

    Marge, I am a Rational man. I do not think that a parent’s intuition trumps scientific research. I do not believe that parents have the right to impose their beliefs on their children when those beliefs could potentially harm the child. I’m sure that you agree that children need to be protected by the State in limited circumstances.

    Let us hope that Ashya gets the care that he needs and that this tragic situation the King family finds itself in can be resolved.

    Peace be with you

    Excelsior!

  • August 30, 2014 at 6:43 am
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    I don’t know about the U.K. but here in the U.S. when a hospital isn’t equipped to take care of a critically ill person, that person is either taken by ambulance or air-lifted to a hospital that is better equipped to take care of that person.

  • August 30, 2014 at 6:52 am
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    Enzo,

    Your analogy is false.

    If a poster on this site committed suicide then of course John would not be held responsible! Commenting on a website is NOT analogous with being a member of a religion.

    Furthermore, this religion claims to be run by 7 men who have been hand picked by Jesus and the religion has the ability to disfellowship and cause others to shun.

    Cedars does not ask us to follow him. He is not a religious leader or the head of one. He does not claim to be “spirit directed” as the 7 men do.

    You are not comparing like with like in your analogy.

    You need to understand that the 7 men who run this religion expect and demand total obedience. They claim that following their rules will make Jesus himself happy etc etc.

    The worst thing that John will and could do is ban us from commenting on his website!

    Enzo, your desire for scientific detachment in this case is admirable. I agree that we do not know FOR SURE that the King’s religious beliefs were the motivation for this extreme event.

    However, I hope that I have helped you see that to include this as a potential reason is scientifically valid.

    Peace be with you

    Excelsior!

  • August 30, 2014 at 7:05 am
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    The Bottom line is the Watchtower is not God as they purport themselves to be by their writings and actions. I too have studied Psychology and who really cares. The fact remains it’s either the right or wrong thing to do. And guess what? It’s that thing called your Conscience that speaks to you and let’s you know right or wrong. So throw all the mumbo jumbo Watchtower produced doctrine out and focus on saving this young helpless child anyway you can.
    I wake up everyday with a RN my other half and she tends to pediatric kids as young as 6 months old. To personally have seen some of them in their various conditions just breaks my heart. What is most admirable is how these parents of these children stop at nothing in providing the best of care for them. Some of them don’t get past their 3rd birthday but between parents and their health care professionals they do everything and anything to preserve their lives.
    And that is how every parent should be and what is accepted as normal behavior.
    But when you take a group of men who are isolated from the real world who produce doctrines based on falsehood, well then that’s when things go terribly wrong.
    As a father I would do anything to preserve my child’s life.
    I would not alow my GOD Given Conscience to be swayed by a manmade religion and their doctrines based on their interpretation.
    So while we may not have all the facts we do know that child needs proper care in order to sustain life.
    Doctors and Nurses spend a extraordinary amount of time on learning their profession that provides life to others.
    The Governong Body are not Doctors or God for that matter.

    • August 30, 2014 at 3:25 pm
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      John, I’m struck by your passion for this cause, for example, “I would do anything to preserve my child’s life.” I imagine most parents feel that way too.
      May I ask, tho, Is there something that you believe is worth dying for?
      I’m not a fan of the hypothetical – often unrealistic – examples, so …

      A recent example – the US Govt. refused to ransom a journalist captured by a group of terrorists (they may have asked for as much as $100,000,000). Regardless of the amount, the policy is based on a conviction that it will only lead to more kidnappings.
      Some European countries (France and Spain, as well as others) have paid out millions to ransom their Citizens – often innocent people on holidays in a place too close to this kind of barbarism.
      So, two different approaches to the same dilemma…
      Should we conclude that the US doesn’t love its citizens and France and Spain do?

  • August 30, 2014 at 7:31 am
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    We are not aware of the facts of the case nor the reasons for the family’s medical choices, which are personal decisions,” said the spokesman.
    Quote from the society’s spokesman. ‘Medical choices are a personal decsion’. . ..really?

  • August 30, 2014 at 7:39 am
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    Let me answer my own question. . No Gary, by your own actions, if you accept a blood transfusion, you will no longer be a Jehovah’s witness. . . .Cowards.

  • August 30, 2014 at 8:13 am
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    This thing about the JW parents taking their little boy away from this hospital raises so many questions in my mind. It seems that the child already had the surgery but it seems that there was nothing more the hospital could do for him, making it sound like he was terminal and maybe they were taking him to a hospital in Spain where there was something that could be done for him in Spain?

    Maybe it didn’t have anything to do with blood but why not at least let the hospital know what they were going to do and where they were taking the boy so people wouldn’t have to wonder what happened to him?

    Maybe the hospital encouraged the parents to air-lift the child to a hospital that could help him and the parents couldn’t afford the bills but then why wouldn’t the hospital tell the newspapers this information? Wouldn’t there by help for situations like this? I thought in the U.K. there was hospital care that people didn’t have to pay for out of pocket and suffer bankruptcy like here in the U.S?

    Wouldn’t the parents have had to have a specific hospital in Spain already in mind and how would they know which hospital to go to and how would they know which hospital to take him to and wouldn’t the hospital be aware of the situation and tell the authorities?

    If it did have to do with blood, why wouldn’t the hospital tell the newspapers that they had wanted to give the child blood but the parents refused etc and then maybe they had wanted to take him to a hospital that would do it without blood?

    The only thing that would make sense to me is that the liaison committee was there and the doctors were saying he needed blood and without blood, their hands were tied and that’s why the doctors might have said nothing more could be done for him and the liaison committee helped take him away and had already a place to take him where a doctor said they’d treat him without blood. The thing is though, that he needs that feeding tube and he could die when the battery runs out. The parents have to be going through hell through all this. The whole thing is just crazy thinking to me but that’s what people do when they are caught between a rock and a hard place.

  • August 30, 2014 at 8:47 am
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    I am in my 80s, and have had to rely on the National Health
    Service many times and have always found the treatment
    and care beyond reproach. My 18 month old great grandson
    has very recently had an operation to correct a spinal deformity
    and is doing fine.

    One has to feel genuine sympathy for the parents of Ashya
    But what’s puzzling, is the surreptitious way they took the
    child out of the hospital, without consulting those who were
    caring for him. It does seem unreasonable to say the least.

    The W,T, Org, Says there is no evidence to link their actions to
    their religious belief. On that point we’ll have to wait to see.
    I have acted unreasonably on many occasions, but non more
    so than when I was willing risk my sons life, for want of a blood
    transfusion. Based on one mans unreasonable interpretation of
    a 4000 year old dietary law. Imposing on it a totally unconnected
    modern medical practice. (“Do not go beyond what is written.”)

    I have very few positive things to say about the W,T, Org, (and
    that does not include the ordinary J,W,s whom I regard as
    victims.) I do not though consider my opinion “Biased ,
    (One sided,) My comments are based on 24 years experience
    as a cong, servant, then as an elder. Facts are facts, nothing
    more.

  • August 30, 2014 at 8:52 am
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    Very sad indeed. I only wonder what any one of us would have done in these circumstances. I wish them well.

  • August 30, 2014 at 9:33 am
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    Cedars,

    I don’t think this is about blood. I think you should have let this one come to more light before posting.

    • August 30, 2014 at 10:28 am
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      Welcome to JWsurvey Jay, and thanks for your input. This is a story all over the UK media involving a Jehovah’s Witness family (I have just watched two runs of the story on Sky News). In case you haven’t noticed, this site reports on news stories affecting Jehovah’s Witnesses. I therefore make no apologies for covering the story. I have made it clearer on the article that the motives of the parents are yet to be confirmed. In the unlikely event that there turns out to be absolutely no religious motivation for a Jehovah’s Witness couple to pull their terminally ill child out of hospital and go on the run, I will make an appropriate retraction (which is more than can be said for Watchtower when they get it wrong). But I am not as scared of discussing the blood issue as the media obviously are, and I know enough about Watchtower PR and spin to know that if they make a statement to the press, the opposite is likely true.

  • August 30, 2014 at 9:43 am
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    anonymous,

    The reason the hospital has not commented on the specific treatment is that patient records are confidential. We may never know what specific treatment little Ashya was given in Southampton.

    The Kings allegedly have an apartment in Spain, and there are police waiting for them there. Mr King has business contacts there too.

    The two parents have a European Arrest Warrent out for them now. I hope they are found in time to help little Ashya.

    I feel pity for the whole King family. No one wants to see their little boy so gravely ill.

    I was reading some of the comments on the UK newspaper, the Telegraph’s website. It was obvious to me that many posters were Witnesses.

    Sadly, the WTBTS will be in overdrive to try to quell this bad PR, not to help the authorities find the Kings.

    The WTBTS have resources in Spain that could be used to help find the family. Will they be used for this? I very much doubt it!

    Peace be with you

    Excelsior!

  • August 30, 2014 at 11:08 am
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    We shall see. Best wishes.

  • August 30, 2014 at 11:16 am
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    Hey Cedars,
    I will follow this case, and I hope that if the King’s are not motivated by their religion beliefs, you rewrite your article in a more neutral way..because in the most articles I can feel that you are a deluded JW.. Full off biterness..very sad..
    To excelsior: do you have numbers or statistics of how many witnesses refuses medical treatments? Can you prove your statements with stronger evidences please?

    • August 30, 2014 at 11:23 am
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      Enzo – If there’s one thing I’m not, it’s a deluded JW. I went through an apostasy trial back in December precisely because I wanted to distance myself from any such affiliation. And why would I need to rewrite the entire article? So far as I can recall, there are only two paragraphs that mention the blood link as a possible motive. Everything else is just as it is reported in the press.

      Should I expect exaggeration to be a hallmark of your future comments?

  • August 30, 2014 at 11:53 am
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    I became a Witness back in the early eighties, and haven’t attended a meeting in a year. Although there is no direct link between refusal of blood and the Kings’ decision to take their son out of the hospital without notice, the story strikes a familiar chord with anybody who has been a Witness for any length of time.
    I recall over the years as far back as I can remember, Witness parents being lauded over the platform at assembly parts for clandestinely taking their children out of the hospital in the middle of the night down a back staircase when a blood transfusion was imminent.

    While Witnesses try to make it easier between themselves and the medical community these days, with their hospital liaison committees and the like, there is a continuous thread throughout Witness culture that is anti-Medical establishment, due in part to their refusal of blood, but also due to an historic bias towards alternative treatments. Recall the old “Golden Age” articles railing against the evils of aluminum and vaccination, etc. Add to this a general antipathy towards any and all things perceived as part of “Satan’s world,” including a medical community wherein blood transfusion when deemed medically necessary is the norm.

    It remains to be seen whether or not there is a direct correlation between the “blood issue” and the King family’s actions, but it wouldn’t surprise me. Their actions and the distancing and stonewalling of the WT Society understandably add to the general public’s perception of JW’s as religious quacks.

  • August 30, 2014 at 12:59 pm
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    I think it is very interesting that the media felt the need to mention that this family were JW’s. There have been cases over the years where parents have removed their children from hospital, but their religious beliefs are not mentioned. I mean it would not be relevant in most cases. Sooooooo how do the media know they are JW’s. It can only be that some one thought it was prudent to mention it. Someone in the hospital perhaps. How else would the media know. I mean why would they feel a need to tell a reporter. Would they have said if they had been catholic. Do I make sense………don’t answer that!!!!!!

  • August 30, 2014 at 1:12 pm
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    It sad!! Fat and Blood = Jehovah’s Food…

    (Leviticus 3:16, 17) . . .And the priest must make them smoke upon the altar as food, an offering made by fire for a restful odor. All the fat belongs to Jehovah. 17 “‘It is a statute to time indefinite for YOUR generations, in all YOUR dwelling places: YOU must not eat any fat or any blood at all. . .

  • August 30, 2014 at 1:32 pm
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    The Kingdom Ministry that, tunnistaja.ee , has brought
    to our attention. Article entitled,
    “Safeguarding Your Children From Misuse of Blood”..
    Is a disgraceful document.

    The instruction, not to quit, even if the hospital gets a
    court order allowing it to do a transfusion….In my
    opinion, is an incitement to forcefully take the child away.
    What alternative is there once the law has made its intent
    known.

    Of course the W,T, Org, avoids any responsibility, for the
    consequences by not giving a explicit instruction. And
    Stating, “It’s your God given responsibility (The parents)
    and is not transferable”

    They crush people with unbearable religious demands.
    And never lift a finger to ease the burden… Matt, 23/4
    N,L,T…

  • August 30, 2014 at 1:55 pm
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    I agree with yoi patrice..
    There are a lot of persons who like to marginize minorities. This remind me at the dark ages when everyone was a witch, and where burned without a fair trial.. The same spirit you can find in these days.
    To want to prove that JW’s are refusing medical treatment, is unfair, and will let to more ostility against minorities.
    I hope in the future that reporters and websites who report such cases will be more accurate, and do a lot more scientific research about religion, to better understand the behaviour of members in a religion. So we can live together in accepting and comprehend better the things we don’t want to accept.. Rather than sometimes fight against..constitutional rights in this modern society…

  • August 30, 2014 at 2:11 pm
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    Undue influence..

  • August 30, 2014 at 2:26 pm
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    If jw.org ain’t careful they are going to lose their tax free charitable status. I can see it happening.

  • August 30, 2014 at 2:28 pm
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    Oh enzo I think you have misunderstood my comments. I found it difficult to word it in my last comment. What I am trying to say, Is that someone felt it necessary to get it out there to the public, that this was not just a family running away from treatment. This was a JW family. Knowing their policies I find that interesting. I think Somebody felt the media needed to know, that the family that was running away were JW’s because of the issues they are known to have with certain kinds of medical treatment. What I am saying is that it SHOULD be public knowledge.

  • August 30, 2014 at 2:33 pm
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    Why did they remove him. Why did they risk his life.

  • August 30, 2014 at 2:39 pm
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    There is a video statement from the father, click the link. I don’t entirely understand, but the father wanted to try “proton beam treatment”, but the doctor there did not think that would work in this case. The father looked up on the internet where it was claimed it would be beneficial in this case (this specific tumor). After more questions from the father, the father claims the doctor tried to threaten him by getting an emergency protection order; not allowing the parents to visit anymore. The father still wanted to try the alternative treatment, so therefore took the boy without telling.

  • August 30, 2014 at 2:39 pm
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    Tell me I’m a lair. Every JW Has the right to choose their own medical treatment?
    So if I choose to have all fractions at once (a 98% blood transfusion) would I no longer be a Jehovah’s witness and shunned? Undue influence.

  • August 30, 2014 at 2:49 pm
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    In reading many of these comments, a general distaste for Witnesses’ position on blood transfusions comes thru loud and clear, coupled with bewildered fury that wants to blame someone (the seven current members of the governing body would due nicely, thank you very much!).
    In an effort to balance the conversation i am including a link to current medical thinking on blood transfusions.
    http://stanmed.stanford.edu/2013spring/article5.html
    It was also noted last week, in a New York Times article, that a dramatic decline in blood transfusions from 15 million units down to 11 million per year has led to a sharp contraction in blood banks and consolidation in the Industry. As one of the Doctors stated, “There’s overwhelming evidence to suggest that blood transfusion is a dual-edged sword,” said Dr. Victor A. Ferraris, a heart surgeon at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, who was the chairman of a committee that wrote the new guidelines. “Some people need it and it saves their lives; other people are harmed by it.” – Blood Industry Shrinks as Transfusions Decline – NY Times 2014/08/23
    that uses my 2 limit links…so just a couple more points,
    Blood transfusions became very popular during the 2nd World War and afterward, from 1945 on, the medical profession started to use them extensively. That is why Witness policy on blood transfusions dates from 1945. Before then it was not nearly so common… and last, but not least, Arthur Ashe – tennis icon – died in 1993 from HIV/AIDS which he got from a blood transfusion before the medical industry realized the need to test for this among donors. A young lad – a hemophiliac named Ryan White contacted AIDS from contaminated blood when he was 13

    • August 31, 2014 at 1:11 am
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      Richard, virtually all medical treatments are a “dual-edged” sword, in that they can sometimes present detrimental side effects. That does not negate the fact that blood transfusions have saved countless lives, and continue to do so. As our medical knowledge increases (thanks to university-educated people, I should add), so will our perfection of these treatments. Even if blood transfusions one day pass into the history books, replaced by some better form of treatment, that will never negate the staggering numbers of lives that were saved by them. Neither will it prove that Watchtower was right to let JWs die in the thousands by refusing blood, because an ancient book can have NOTHING to say on a modern medical practice.

  • August 30, 2014 at 2:55 pm
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    Well Cedars, looks like you need to retract the article!

    • August 31, 2014 at 1:12 am
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      The article is updated.

  • August 30, 2014 at 3:01 pm
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    Blame is ur own weakness. How about you?

  • August 30, 2014 at 3:08 pm
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    jay, I’d like to hear the response from the hospital to this father’s statement first.

    Richard, you quote it yourself “Some people need it and it saves their lives”; so what is your point? The linked article talks mainly about decreasing unnecessary blood usage, not that it is bad per se. Even in the studied Jehovah’s Witnesses cases who seem to recover better, it is mentioned that might be because they received different kind of care; more focused on bloodless surgery: extra vitamins + iron to stimulate blood cell creation, the recycling blood machine etc. So it’s not really apples-to-apples comparison. These days blood transfusions are tested for diseases so the odds of transmitting a disease that way have been drastically reduced; and even if not, the benefit might still outweigh the risk. So again, what’s your point?

    • August 30, 2014 at 4:00 pm
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      hmm..always a bit risky here, but i’ll give it a go.
      Witnesses – adults -, have been willing to work with Doctors in ways to manage their care and still not violate ‘their’ conscience (not my conscience or yours)
      regarding blood. In essence, serving as guinea pigs along side the dedicated efforts of Doctors and staff, as new techniques were developed to accommodate this “strange, bizarre, weird …”, pick your favorite adjective, belief/faith. Because of this, the population as a whole has benefited when previous treatments are replaced with new and better outcomes. Bloodletting was considered good medicine, ” claimed to have been the most common medical practice performed by surgeons from antiquity until the late 19th century, a span of almost 2,000 years.”

      The point is, who gets to choose? I think many today would not begrudge a witness adult this freedom to choose. The issue gets much more complex when a minor is involved.
      Should the parents retain the right to decide for their children in this situation as well as all the other one hundred and ten ways a parent affects the life of their child?

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